MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes women's basketball team defeated Centre College 79-60 in the Southern Athletic Association Conference Tournament Championship to sweep both the SAA regular season championship and the tournament championship.
 
The Lynx post a season record of 23-3 while the Colonels finish their campaign with an 18-10 record.
 
Rhodes was in control from the get go, as Sarah Johnson put up the Lynx first eight points with two three pointers and two lay-ups to take an 8-4 lead in the opening three minutes. Rhodes milked the three, knocking down three in a row from Blaire Smith, Johnson and Lauren Avant to pull to a 26-10 lead at the 10 minute mark.
 
Rhodes continued to ride the momentum, using a 13-0 run behind a Todman three and buckets from Avant, Smith and Daniels to pull ahead by27, at 39-12 with 5:35 left in play. Rhodes finished the half strong, with Todman knocking down a three as the shot clock expired to take a 44-26 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Lynx were paced by Avant who netted 18 first half points. Johnson chipped in 11, shooting 3-4 from beyond the arc. Paige Baechle added 10 to Centre's first half total, with Alexis Guy adding six. Rhodes held the Colonels to 41.7 percent shooting, while giving up zero threes to the Colonels. Rhodes posted a hot 53.1 percent from the field, with seven made threes.
 
Rhodes took the lead and ran, and in the second half the Lynx' energy was through the roof. The Lynx knocked down three, three pointers and an Avant jumper for a 10 point run over a two minute span to widen the gap to 61-36 with 13:34 to play.
 
The Colonels fights to comeback were halted at every attempt by the Lynx defense and hot offense. A big three from Todman at the 5:10 mark lifted the Lynx to a 73-52 advantage. Rhodes finished out the contest strong, and claimed the SAA title with a final score of 79-60.
 
Rhodes was led by the tournament MVP, Avant who netted 36 points, pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists. Avant shot 15-21 from the field and three for six beyond the arc.  Johnson finished with 14 points and eight assists in the outing including a four for six performance from beyond the three point line.  Todman added 12 points and five rebounds. Todman was also named to the SAA All-Tournament team.
 
Centre efforts were led by Paige Baechle, followed by Mary Gordon Stough who added 12. Alexis Guy scored 11 points, with Maggie Hartlage chipping in 10.
 
Rhodes shot 50.0 percent on the day from the field, with an impressive 43.8 percent from three point land. Centre posted a 45.8 percent shooting day.
 
Rhodes will await the release of the NCAA Division III bracket to see if they will be included in the big dance. The SAA does not receive an automatic qualifying bid until its third year of existence, so the Lynx will look to receive an at large bid. The NCAA will release the bracket at 1:30 p.m. March 3.