MEMPHIS - Junior Bailey Kramer finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds while senior Catherine Eckert added 13 points as the Rhodes College women's basketball team erased an 11-point second half deficit to defeat the Belhaven University Blazers, 58-53, in their season opener.

Rhodes moves to 1-0 on the young year as the Lynx competed in their first game under the new four quarter system. The Lynx outscored the Blazer 36-24 in the second half including a 20-6 stretch towards the end of the third quarter.

Both teams got off to a slow start as neither teams could get much going offensively in the first half. The Blazers took a 9-8 lead at the end of one and was able to find their rhythm in the second quarter, pushing their lead out to 24-15. Senior Symone Daniels and Eckert pushed the deficit to four before the break, but a three-pointers from Belhaven's Ieshia Dixon gave the Blazers a 29-22 lead going into the break.

Belhaven continued to play well into the third quarter, coming away with multiple defensive stops and taking an 11-point lead midway through the quarter. However, Rhodes responded instantly with an 8-0 run to make it a three-point game thanks to a three-point play from Eckert, a three pointer from freshman Breana Hunt, and a layup from Daniels. 

Both teams would battle back-and-forth as Rhodes continued to inch closer to Belhaven. The Blazers pushed their lead back to five towards the end of the the third, but junior Blaire Smith was able to connect on a bucket at the buzzer to make it a 43-40 game with one quarter to play.

The Lynx carried that momentum into the final quarter as Kramer and Eckert led Rhodes on a 6-0 run for their first lead since early in the first quarter at 46-43. The Blazers got it back down to a one point game, but layups from freshman Sara Giesen and senior Hannah Orth pushed the Lynx lead back to 50-46. 

Later in the game, Belhaven made it a one-possession game, but Smith came through with a huge mid-range bucket with 47 seconds remaining as the Lynx used free throws to close the contest and earn their first with of the season.

Rhodes struggled from the field, shooting 32% in the game. The first half was a struggle, shooting only 24%, but Rhodes rebounded in the second half, shooting 41%. They only shot 25% from deep and 60% from the charity stripe. Belhaven was the opposite, shooting well in the first half at 42%, but got shut down by the Lynx defense in the second half, shooting only 24%.

The Lynx got a great effort on the boards, out rebounding Belhaven, 45-43, including a 15-9 advantage in offense rebounds. Rhodes also won the turnover battle, forcing 17 and only giving it away 12 times.

Daniels had nine points in the contest to go with seven boards while Smith added seven points and five assists. Freshman Danielle Summers had four assists off the bench while sophomore Jessie Ustick pulled down five boards off the bench. Eckert, Kramer, and Daniels all had two steals. 

Rhodes will hit the road for the first time in 2015-16 on Sunday as they head to Sherman, Texas to battle the Austin College 'Roos. Tip off is set for 1 p.m.