Central State Earns 85-81 Road Victory Over Benedict in SIAC Showdown

Columbia, SC (January 2, 2025) – Central State came out on top in a thrilling back-and-forth battle against Benedict, earning an 85-81 victory at HRC Arena. The win improves the Marauders to 5-1 in SIAC play and extends their overall record to 6-5, while Benedict drops to 3-7 on the season and 2-4 in conference action.

Central State's offense was firing on all cylinders, scoring a season-high 85 points, led by an impressive bench performance. A total of 13 different players scored for the Marauders, showcasing their depth and balance. Central State's bench outscored Benedict's 55-49, with key contributions from Zhieyah Rolack (13 points), Samara Savoy (11 points), and Tamai Mancuso (8 points).

The Marauders opened the game with a solid defensive effort, leading 18-15 after the first quarter, despite shooting just 31.25% from the field. However, their offensive efficiency improved as the game went on. In the second quarter, Central State shot 52.94% from the field and stretched their lead to 39-35 at halftime.

Coming out of the break, Central State's offense exploded. The Marauders shot a blistering 69.23% from the field in the third quarter, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. This offensive outburst, combined with tough defense, saw them take a 67-57 lead heading into the final period.

Benedict fought valiantly in the fourth, trimming the lead to as few as 2 points, but Central State's defense and timely free throw shooting held off the Tigers' comeback. The Marauders shot 58.8% from the free-throw line for the game, including 7-of-12 in the final quarter to secure the victory.

Dashanti Miller led Central State with 13 points, including a 9-for-14 effort from the free-throw line. Z Rolack got back on track with 13 points and 8 rebounds.   Abbigail Peterson also played a key role, contributing 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 20 minutes of action.

Benedict was led by Ghylissa Knowles, who scored a game-high 14 points, and Taylor Christmas, who added 9 points and 5 rebounds. Despite strong individual performances, the Tigers struggled with their shooting, finishing the game with just 37.3% shooting from the field and 25% from three-point range.

Next up, Central State will look to extend their strong conference play when they take on Allen to try to move to 6-1 in SIAC play.  The Marauders 5-1 start in conference play is the best start since 2016-17 when the Lady Marauders went 23-6 overall and 15-3 in conference play.  

Story By: Brad Kocher