Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A 37 point performance from senior guard Lauren Avant isn't enough as the Rhodes women's basketball team falls in the second round of the NCAA tournament to the University of Texas at Tyler, 77-74.
 
Rhodes finishes its season, tying a school record best, at 25-4. The Patriots survive and advance to the sweet sixteen of the NCAA with a 27-3 record.
 
The contest was a battle from tip off, with the Patriots drawing first blood with an early three from Taylor Murphy with 30 seconds into the contest. The back and forth battle ensued, with the Lynx knotting things up at 8-8 after a Lauren Avant lay-in with 14:40 to play.
 
Rhodes fought for the lead, with an Avant bucket paired with free throws taking the Lynx to a four point lead at 11:29, 17-13. But the Lynx couldn't hold off the Patriots for long, as they charged back behind a Jasmine Baskin three to take a 25-23 lead at the 6:55 mark. Bailey Kramer netted the final Lynx bucket of the half, as Rhodes took a33-30 deficit into the break.
 
At the half, Avant led all scorers with 14 points. Johnson added six points at the break. For the Patriots, Jasmine Baskin led the way with 11 points, followed by seven points and 11 rebounds from Brittany King.
 
Rhodes shot 34.6 percent from the field in the half, with their counterparts putting up 36.4 percent. UT-Tyler also knocked down four three point attempts, while the Lynx only counted one first half trey.
 
After the break, the Patriots came out of the locker room and quickly gained the momentum, surging to a 17 point lead after a 14 point run by the 14:33 mark, 51-34. But the Lynx weren't ready to throw in the towel, as they worked to chip away at the UT-Tyler lead. A pair of buckets from Johnson and Avant and a pair of free throws from Daniels got Rhodes headed in the right direction, cutting the deficit to 8 with 11:35 to play at 51-43.
 
Rhodes continued to wear down the Patriots, and after a Kramer layup, the Lynx were within five at 57-52 with 8:40 remaining in the contest. UT-Tyler created another run, pulling back out to a double digit lead. Rhodes continued to fight, and worked their deficit to just one after an Avant lay-in made it 69-68 with 50 seconds to play. The Rhodes fight wasn't enough, as they fell 77-74 to UT-Tyler.
 
Avant posted a game-high 37 points, her second highest total of the season. Avant also tallied four assists and three steals in the outing. Daniels posted 12 points, with eight points and three assists and four steals from Johnson.
 
UT-Tyler was led by King, who finished with 33 points and 17 rebounds. She'Cara Humphrey added 12 points, followed by Baskins who netted 11.
 
On the night, Rhodes shot 46.3 percent from the field to a UT-Tyler total of 45.5. The patriots had the advantage beyond the three point arc, shooting 6 six for 19.
 
Rhodes will lose lone senior Lauren Avant, who averaged 25.6 points per game this season. Avant finishes the season as the No. 2 ranked player in Division III women's basketball in points per game, behind Thomas More's Sydney Moss, who averages 28.6.
 
Avant has rewritten the record books at Rhodes, setting new points in a season record (692), free throws made (180), points per game average (25.6), and became the newest member of the Rhodes 1,000 point club, finishing at No. 5 on the list with 1,373 total points.