Box Score FRANKFORT, Ky. – Taylor Sanders made a running floater as time expired to lift Kentucky State to a 74-73 win over Benedict in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball action Monday at the Exum Center.

The game featured two teams ranked in the top 10 in the South Region, each of them coming into the season off of NCAA Tournament appearances last year. The game did not disappoint, with the lead changing hands four times in the final three minutes.

Things looked good for the Tigers when a pair of Terri Jacobs free throws gave them a 72-69 lead with 48 seconds left. However, Kentucky State answered at the other end when Logan Powell made a layup and converted the 3-point play to tie the game at 72. A free throw by Kadeeja Vaughn put Benedict up 73-72 with 10 seconds, but Sanders, who had been hot throughout the game and finished with 25 points, sliced through the defense and sank the game winner as time expired.

Sanders was one of three Thorobrettes in double figures, also adding six assists, four rebounds, and three steals to her stat line. Jamesha Mosley added 15 points with eight rebounds, while Powell chipped in 12 points. Vaughn led Benedict with 21 points.

Kentucky State trailed 19-15 at the end of the first quarter and trailed by as many as eight points midway through the second. Trailing 27-19, Shaia Horton made a 3-pointer that sparked a 12-1 Thorobrettes run that also included back-to-back 3-pointers by Sanders. Another jumper by Sanders gave Kentucky State a 35-32 halftime lead.

Kentucky State carried its momentum into the second half, where it quickly built its lead to double digits after scoring the first seven points of the third quarter. The Thorobrettes stayed comfortably in front well into the fourth quarter and still led 63-54 with just over five minutes to play before Benedict made a late run. The Tigers scored nine straight to tie the game, then took back the lead on a Jacobs 3-pointer at the 2:45 mark, setting up the frantic final stretch.

For the game, Kentucky state shot 50 percent both from the field (28-of-56) and 3-point range (9-of-18), compared to 44 percent (24-of-55) shooting from the field and 46 percent (6-of-13) shooting from outside for Benedict. Benedict held a 35-29 rebounding advantage.

Kentucky State improves to 5-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference play with the victory, while Benedict drops to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference. After three straight home games, the Thorobrettes travel to Owensboro for the Kentucky Wesleyan College Classic, where they will take on Trevecca Nazarene on Dec. 19 and Kentucky Wesleyan on Dec. 20.