ALBANY, Ga. – Claflin University used big runs in each of the three games to knock Benedict College out of the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 3-0 on Wednesday on the campus of Albany State University.

Claflin won by scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-18. With the loss, Benedict wraps up the 2011 season with a 16-7 record.

The Lady Tigers had a 15-13 lead in game one before Claflin went on an 11-1 run, including scoring the final nine points. Claflin scored three of its final five points off Benedict attack errors.

Game two was a similar story. Benedict jumped out to a 13-6 lead before Claflin came back with nine consecutive points to a 15-13 lead. The Lady Tigers pulled back ahead at 17-16 thanks to three straight kills by LaTayvia Mack, but then Claflin went on another run, outscoring Benedict 6-1 for a 22-18 lead. Benedict was able to cut the lead to 23-21 on a Claflin attack error, and again at 24-22 on a kill by Terea Sweeting, but Claflin finished the game with a kill for the 25-22 win.

Benedict had the lead again in game three, going ahead 15-12 on a block by Sweeting. But then Claflin went on a 7-1 run for a 19-16 lead. A Claflin service error made it 19-17, but then the Lady Panthers scored the next five points for a 24-17 lead. A kill by Courtney Bobo-McKenzie stopped Claflin's run, but the Lady Panthers closed out the game with a kill for the 25-18 win.

“We should have won the first two games, for sure,” said Benedict coach Gwen Rouse. “We didn't have enough intensity and we didn't finish.”

Mack led Benedict with 12 kills. Lorena Leao had 11 digs and Ashley Jackson had 23 assists.

Claflin stayed alive in the tournament to face Albany State in the championship of the loser's bracket. The winner of that match was scheduled to face Kentucky State, the only undefeated team in the tournament, for the tournament title.