MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – The No. 20 ranked Rhodes women's basketball team fell in their first Southern Athletic Association contest on Sunday to Berry College, 85-67
 
The Lynx fall to 11-3 on the year, and 2-1 in the SAA, while the Vikings improve to 11-3 and 3-0 in league play.
 
In the first half of action, the Lynx kept stride with the Vikings, aided by the three-point line. After trailing initially, the Lynx charged back to take the 5-4 lead after a Dy'Nelle Todman three and layup by the 17:15 mark. Over the next 10 minutes, the Lynx would see six lead changes and three ties.
 
A Symone Daniels three with 5:34 to play would tie the score for the fourth time in the contest at 24-24. But an 11-3 Viking run to close the half would leave the Lynx trailing 36-27 heading into the break.
 
At the half, Daniels led the Lynx efforts with eight points, and three rebounds. Todman, Blaire Smith and Natalie Goodrum each chipped in five towards Rhodes totals. Berry's Chanlir Segarra netted 11 first half points to lead all scorers at the mid way point, with Emma Cook and Megan Casey each tallying six points.
 
Rhodes posted a 26.3 field goal percentage to Berry's 52.2 percent from the field in the opening period. The Lynx forced 13 turnovers, while only committing three themselves.
 
In the second half the Viking charge didn't let up, and Berry scored 18 unanswered points to open play to post a 53-27 lead by the 16:14 mark. Rhodes, now forced to play catch up, worked to chip away at the Berry lead.
 
Back to back lay-ins from Sarah Johnson and Todman at the 10:39 mark cut the Vikings lead down to 19, at 62-43. Another Lynx spurt with 5:24 to play got the deficit to 17 after a pair of Daniels layups and a Johnson jumper made the count 72-55. The Viking lead proved too much for the Lynx to overcome, as Rhodes fell 85-67.
 
Johnson and Daniels each tallied 16 points in the contest to lead the Lynx scoring, with Daniels grabbing six rebounds and three steals, and Johnson snagging three steals and dishing two assists. Todman finished with nine points and three steals as well.
 
Segarra finished with 26 points for the Vikings, with 12 rebounds and fives assists. Cook netted 17 points with Mel McLean adding 12. Berry shot 52.9 percent from the field in the contest, with a 53.3 three-point percentage.
 
Rhodes shot 32.0 percent from the field in the outing, and 26 points in the paint. The Lynx managed to force 25 Berry turnovers, which they turned into 19 points.
 
Rhodes will be back in action on Jan. 17 when the Lynx head to Conway, Ark. for a league match up with Hendrix College.