MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 20 ranked Rhodes women's basketball team fell in a tough battle on Monday to Emory University, 73-61.
 
The Lynx fall to 10-2 on the season while the Eagles improve to 8-3 on the year.
 
The Lynx hit the floor for the first time in two weeks after a holiday hiatus last saw Rhodes in action on Dec. 20.
 
The Lynx struggled to shake the cobwebs as they misfired on their first two field goal attempts. Dy'Nelle Todman was finally able to end the scoring drought at the 18:22 mark when she drove in for a layup. Symone Daniels added another paur of buckets by the 17:05 mark, giving Rhodes a 7-2 advantage.
 
Rhodes would continue to struggle from the field, as they watched Emory charge to a 30-11 lead by the 4:25 mark. Finding a spark, the Lynx were able to cut the deficit, aided by a Natalie Goodrum lay-in and a five point swing from Sarah Johnson. An Erin Deery three to close the half cut the Lynx deficit to 10, at 35-25.
 
At the break, the Lynx were led by Johnson who tallied seven points and five assists. Todman added six points with Daniels netting four points. The Eagles were led by Dumebi Egbuna and Khadijah Sayyid who each added six points.
 
Rhodes shot a mere 24.3 percent from the field in the opening half, while their counterparts hoisted 42.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Head coach Matt Dean's squad looked to chipped away at the Eagle lead in the second half, but it seemed that every Lynx surge was answered by Emory. A Deery three with 17:48 to play cut the lead to single digits at 38-30. Emory distanced itself again, but a Johnson three point play and a Todman three worked the score to 51-54 with 10:09 to play.
 
After a Madison Butler three, a Daniels layup and a pair of Bailey Kramer free throws at the 5:25 mark, the Lynx whittled down the Emory lead to 51-60. The Eagles continued to push ahead, proving too much for Rhodes to overcome as the Lynx fell 73-61.
 
In the contest, Johnson led all scorers with 17 points, The senior also tallied six assists and five steals with three rebounds and one blocked shot. Todman worked into double digits with 10 points and six rebounds, with Kramer just a point shy of a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Eagles had a balanced scoring attack, with Michelle Bevan and Sayyid each netting 13 points. Sayyid also grabbed 15 rebounds in the outing, to go with three assists. Dumebi also snagged a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Rhodes will hit the road for its next three contests, with the first stops in Georgia for matchups with Oglethorpe University on Jan. 9 and Berry College on Jan. 11.