BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Lynn University women's basketball team was tripped up in its final contest of the calendar year, falling 58-52 to 24th-ranked Benedict College on Sunday afternoon to close out the Courtyard Boca Raton Holiday Classic. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Benedict 58, Lynn 52

Records: Benedict (10-1), Lynn (2-8)

Location: de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center | Boca Raton, Fla.

Series: Lynn leads 3-2

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• First Quarter: Benedict controlled the opening tip and quickly took a 7-2 lead, but a Zachara Bailey layup tied the game at 8-8 six minutes into the game. The Fighting Knights went ahead for the first time when Shatorria Baker connected on a three-pointer, a lead Lynn wouldn't relinquish until the fourth quarter. After the first ten minutes, Lynn claimed a slight 14-10 edge. 
• Second Quarter: The two teams exchanged buckets for most of the second frame, with Bria Huffmann leading the Lynn charge with six points. Benedict's Kari Jones matched Huffmann's output, but the Fighting Knights went to the locker room with a 32-23 advantage. 
• Third Quarter: Lynn carried over the same energy from the first half, coming away with defensive stops early in the period. The Tigers outrebounded their hosts 16-7 in the third stanza, helping them cut the Lynn lead to 41-39 moving to the final quarter.
• Fourth Quarter: After more than seven minutes of back-and-forth play, Benedict regained the lead for the final time after Destiny Betts made an easy layup to give the Tigers a 49-48 upper hand. Regime McCombs chipped in eight points to help the Tigers escape with a 58-52 victory. 

QUOTABLE:

• "It's frustrating to lose a game we had control of for three quarters, but we definitely turned a corner today. We need to learn how to play when a team makes a run on us. Our team's tenacity has changed, and that's what you want going into the break. I want them to remember that this is what they're capable of, but we have to finish with a win." - Lynn head coach Julia Huddleston 

STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Baker led all scorers with 15 points, her new season-high.
• Huffmann added nine points for the Fighting Knights, while Zachara Bailey chipped in seven of her own.
• McCombs and KaDeeja Vaughn combined for 23 points as the only Tigers in double-figures.
• Benedict claimed a 48-28 advantage in rebounds, while also shooting seven percent (38%-31%) better from the floor than Lynn.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Benedict has dropped just one contest this season, a one-point road game in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.
• Sunday was Lynn's lowest-scoring game of the season.

UP NEXT

The Fighting Knights return to action on Jan. 2, when they host Florida Tech in Sunshine State Conference play. Tipoff is set for 2:00 pm from de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center.