SPORTS BRIEFS: Benedict women top Albany State in SIAC East first-place battle

Benedict women top Albany State in first-place battle

The 15th-ranked Benedict College Lady Tigers used a dominating second quarter to defeat Albany State 82-53 in a rematch of last year’s SIAC Championship game Saturday afternoon at Benedict.

In a battle for first place in the SIAC East Division, Benedict outscored the Lady Rams 26-2 in the second period to take a 49-26 halftime lead and held on for the victory.

Benedict improved to 19-1 overall and 9-1 in the SIAC with its 14th straight victory. Albany State dropped to 8-10 overall and 8-2 in the SIAC.

Zuri Frost led Albany State with 16 points.

Albany State will play host to Miles College Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Albany State men fall to Benedict

The Benedict College Tigers won their fifth straight game with a 56-48 victory over Albany State University in a men’s basketball SIAC contest on Saturday at Benedict.

The Tigers outscored the Rams 17-6 over the final 7:45 to pull away for the victory.

Benedict improves to 13-6 overall and 8-2 in the SIAC. Albany State falls to 2-16 overall and 1-8 in the SIAC.

Darton women top Andrew College

The Darton State College Lady Cavaliers defeated Andrew College 60-45 Saturday afternoon in Cuthbert.

The Lady Cavaliers were led by freshman Tynicia McCoy’s 23 points, while Tyeshia Smith recorded a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 17 rebounds. Patra Parris finished with nine points.

Darton pulled away in the second half after holding Andrew to just 19 percent shooting (4 of 21) from the floor.

The Lady Cavaliers play host to Georgia Highlands Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Cavalier Arena.

Fowler, McIlroy in five-way tie at Abu Dhabi

Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland were two of five players tied for the lead on Saturday when darkness halted play in round three of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after a fog delay for the second straight morning at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Branden Grace of South Africa, Joost Luiten of the Netherlands and Ian Poulter of England also had a share of the lead at 10-under-par.

“It’s a really bunched leaderboard,” said McIlroy, who finished a second-round 2-under-par 70 with birdie-eagle and then was 2-under through nine holes of round three. “It will be a bit of a sprint to the finish.”

Fowler shot 68 in the second round and was 4-under through 11 holes of round three, while Grace bounced back from a 74 to play 16 holes in 6-under, Luiten had a 68 and was 3-under through 10 holes, and Poulter posted a 69 before playing 13 holes in 5-under.

Andy Sullivan of England, the 36-hole leader at 67-67, was two strokes ahead until hitting his drive into a bush on the ninth hole of round three, his last of the day, and taking a triple-bogey 7 as darkness closed in.

Sullivan dropped to one stroke back in a tie for sixth that included Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who posted a 72 before playing 10 holes in 2-under.

Top-ranked Jordan Spieth struggled to a 73 in round two but came back with a 68 and was three strokes behind in a tie for 15th that included Martin Kaymer, who carded a second 69 and was 1-under through 12 holes, and amateur Bryson DeChambeau, who shot 72 in round two before playing nine holes of round three in 1-over.