MEMPHIS - After falling behind 5-1 early in the first half, the Rhodes College women's lacrosse team outscored the Birmingahm-Southern Panthers, 15-5, the rest of the way en route to a 16-10 victory at Mason Field while punching their tickets back to the Southern Athletic Association Championship Game.

The Lynx out shot BSC, 30-25, including a 24-15 advantage in shots on goal. Rhodes forced 14 Panther turnovers and only turned it over nine times on the other end. The Lynx also scooped up 23 ground balls despite only going 10-for-27 in draw controls.

After falling behind 1-0, sophomore Kendall Cunningham scored Rhodes' first goal to tie things up a minute into the contest. BSC proceeded to score four straight goals in the next four minutes to take a 5-1 advantage.

The Lynx used the next five minutes to climb back into the contest as junior Ashley Dill scored her first goal of the game followed back-to-back goals from sophomore Maggie Rippeto. After a Panther goal, Rippeto scored her third of the game to make it a goal game again.

The Panthers went ahead 7-5 with 5:59 to go, but Rhodes closed the half with three straight goals to take their first lead of the game at the break. Sophomore Olivia Holmes, Rippeto, and Dill all scored with Dill's goal coming with 35 seconds to play as Rhodes took the momentum into halftime.

In the second half, Rippeto, Cunningham, and a pair of goals from sophomore Ashley Doyle ignited the Lynx as they moved their lead to 12-7, scoring seven straight goals since early in the first half.

BSC scored a pair of goals to make it 12-9, but Cunningham scored three consecutive goals to put the game out of reach while senior Morgan Fuller sealed the deal with her first goal as Rhodes dominated the Panthers for the 16-10 win.

Both Cunningham and Rippeto finished with five goals on the day. Cunningham added four draw controls and a caused turnover while Rippeto had an assist and two ground balls. Holmes finished with three assists on the day while Doyle had two goals and an assists. 

Dill also had two goals while freshman Annika Hedlund, Fuller, and sophomore Erin Gleeson each had an assist. Doyle finished with three caused turnovers while Dill, sophomore Rachel Windmueller, and freshman Daly Colarossi each had two. Dill also finished with five ground balls and three draw controls.

The Lynx will defend their title in the championship game next Sunday as they travel to Danville, Ky. to take on Centre College, who defeated Sewanee in the other semifinal game, 15-12. Game time is set for 1 PM ET.