SEWANEE, Tenn. - Despite a hot start from the field in the first half and a 34-33 lead at the break, the Rhodes College women's basketball team could not sustain their lead as they fell to Muskingum on Wednesday evening at Juhan Stadium on the campus of Sewanee, 70-56.

The Lynx shot near 40% in the first half, but only connected on eight field goals in the second half to finish 21 of 62 (34%) in the game including 6 of 28 (21%) from behind the arch. Rhodes also struggled from the free throw line, finishing 8 of 17 (47%). The Muskies shot 43% from the field and 40% from deep, connecting on 10 3-pointers. Rhodes was even in both turnovers at 11 and rebounds at 41.

Junior Erin Deery came out on fire in the first quarter, going 3 of 4 from the 3-point line while scoring 11 points as Rhodes led by as many as eight and took a 20-15 lead after one.

Muskingum crawled back into it in the second quarter, but a pair of buckets from junior Jessie Ustick and a 3-pointer from freshman Ashley Foret put the Lynx ahead 34-33 going into the break.

Rhodes maintained their lead in the third quarter as the duo of senior Bailey Kramer and sophomore Allie Young combined to give the Lynx a 43-40 lead and even took a 47-46 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, the Muskies outscored the Lynx 24-11 in the final quarter to pull away and take the 14 point win.

Deery scored 16 points in the loss while Young added nine points and Ustick pitched in eight. Kramer pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds to go with two blocks and a steal. Senior Blaire Smith added five assists in the game while Smith, Foret, and freshman Danielle Summers all had two steals.

Rhodes will return to action tomorrow at 1 PM as they will take on Washington and Lee on the campus of Sewanee.