JACKSON, Miss. – The Rhodes women's basketball team picked up a win in the first round of the Southern Athletic Association Conference Tournament on Friday over Centre College, 68-55.  
 
The Lynx improve to 18-8 on the year while the Colonels finish the season at 10-15.
 
Head coach Matt Dean's squad got off to a hot start, with a jumper from Sarah Johnson and back-to-back buckets from Symone Daniels to post a 6-0 lead by the 16:44 mark. Rhodes widened their lead by the 12:05 mark to 14, after a bucket from Bailey Kramer and back-to-back three's from Dy'Nelle Todman for the 21-7 lead.
 
The Colonels worked the Lynx lead down to single digits by the five minute mark, but Rhodes held on down the stretch, and with buckets from Johnson, Todman and Daniels to close the half, the Lynx took a 38-28 lead into the break.
 
At the half, Todman led all scorers with 12 points, while Daniels chipped in 11 of her own to go with 10 rebounds for a first half double-double. Johnson added seven points from the Lynx. For Centre, Maggie Hartlage netted nine points with Olivia Colliver adding eight.
 
Rhodes came out strong in the second half, and by the 15:30 mark, a Daniels trey from downtown lifted the Lynx to a score of 48-32. The Lynx hit the 20 point lead mark at the 8:08 mark after Johnson weaved through the lane for the lay-in and the 62-42 lead.
 
The Lynx held off the Centre charges, and down the stretch were able to maintain their double digit lead. Rhodes held on for a decisive 68-55 win and advances to the second round of the SAA Tournament.
 
Daniels finished the night, leading all scorers with 23 points and picked up a season best 18 rebounds. Todman netted 16 points and snagged seven rebounds, while Johnson added 15 and dished five assists.
 
Centre was led by Harlage who chipped in 14 points, with Colliver and Alexis Guy each reoaching double figures with 10 apiece.
 
The Lynx will be back in action on Feb 28 in the semi-final round of the SAA Tournament when they take on Berry College at 7 p.m.