THOMAS 15 FIRST HALF POINTS LEAD LADY BEARS PAST BENEDICT
COLUMBIA, SC – The Lady Bears of Miles College (8-4; 5-3) beat the Lady Tigers of Benedict College (9-5; 7-3) 66-55 behind a 15 point first half by junior forward
Sammeika Thomas Thursday night at Benjamin E. Mays HRC.
The Lady Bears jumped out to a 20-17 advantage after a bucket by freshman guard
Enria Samuels with 7:31 left in the opening period. The team would take its biggest lead 31-27 in the first half off a free throw by junior guard
Charlesia Norman with 3:11 remaining in the half. Benedict would fight back cutting the lead to 31-30 on a foul shot by Brittany Jackson with 1:49 to go.
Miles would remain on top taking a 32-30 halftime lead into the locker room. Benedict would out rebound the Lady Bears 17-14.
Thomas led all scorers with 15 points at the break, while junior guard
Toccara Charles chipped in five. The Lady Bears shot 47.8 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent (8-of-12) in free throws and 100.0 percent from three point land.
The Lady Tigers hit 37.9 percent from the field and 75.0 percent at the foul line. Alexus Jones led the Lady Tigers with eight points.
After the break, Miles increased the lead to 15 points as they jumped out to a 45-30 advantage after a layup by junior forward
Alicia Ware with 13:27 remaining. Benedict cut the lead to nine on a layup by Charvez Holmes with 24 seconds left, but their effort would come up short as the Lady Bears took the victory 66-55.
Thomas led the Lady Bears in scoring with a game-high 17 points, seven boards, two assist and two steals, while going 6-of-10 from the floor, 1-of-1 in three's and 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Charles and senior point guard
Ashley Orphey added 15 and 12 points and Ware and junior forward
Kamissah Shaw grabbed seven rebounds each. Orphey hit 7-of-7 free throws and Charles went 4-of-4 at the line for Miles.
Miles shot 42.9 percent (21-of-49) from the floor, 19-of-25 (76.0 percent) at the free throw line and 62.5 percent in three pointers. Benedict won on the boards with 35 to Miles 32.
Jones led the Lady Tigers with 12 points and Utivia Barnes paced all rebounders with nine.
The Lady Bears return to action on Saturday, January 22 as they play the Lady Lions of Paine College in Augusta, GA at 1 p.m.
