MEMPHIS - The Rhodes College women's lacrosse team are champions of the Southern Athletic Association and earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship, defeating Berry 21-9 at Mason Field.

THREE-PEAT after me: the Lynx are a perfect 18-0.

THREE-PEAT after me: it is the third straight SAA Championship for a four year old program.

THREE-PEAT after me: it is the third straight NCAA Championship appearance for the Lynx. 

The Lynx took on a much-improved Berry squad, who came in the No. 2 seed in the SAA, and pulled away late in the first half and throughout the second half for the victory. It was the first time the championship game was played at Mason Field and completes a perfect season at the Lynx home venue.

Rhodes out shot the Vikings 40-17 and forced 18 Viking turnovers on the afternoon. The Lynx picked up 25 ground balls, added 23 draw controls, and pressured Berry all afternoon.

The Lynx came out red hot, scoring three goals in the first three minutes from junior Kendall Cunningham, sophomore Annika Hedlund, and junior Ashley Doyle. Junior Olivia Holmes found the back of the cage after a Berry goal for a 4-1 lead five minutes into the game.

Berry scored a pair of goals though and tried to slow the game down, keeping the score at 4-3 midway through the first half. However, Rhodes rattled off six straight goals, two from Holmes and one each from junior Erin Gleeson, senior Ashley Dill, senior Lindsay Gess, and Cunningham, to go ahead 10-3.

Berry would score three more goals in the final five minutes, but Holmes and Doyle each added a score as well to give Rhodes a 12-6 lead at the break.

The two teams exchanged goals throughout the first 10 minutes of the half with Hedlund, Holmes, and Cunningham all scoring a goal for a 15-9 lead. The Lynx closed the game strong in the final 20 minutes, scoring six consecutive goals to close out the game and the title, 21-9. Doyle scored twice while Gess, Cunningham, Dill, and freshman Kaeley Bennett each added a goal in the final 20.

Holmes had a career-game in the championship contest, finishing with an incredible seven points including five goals and two assists. Doyle added five points including four goals and five draw controls while Cunningham had four points, all in the form of goals. 

Hedlund had three points including two goals and one assists while Gess had two goals. Senior Maggie Rippeto had two assists while Bennett had a goal and assist. Gleeson added a goal and four draw controls while junior Rachel Windmueller, sophomore Taylor Ansel, and freshman Madison Rubio each had an assist. 

Defensively, Doyle had three caused turnovers while sophomore Dylan Craddock had three as well. Bennett added two caused turnovers and three ground balls while Hedlund and sophomore Daly Colarossi had three ground balls as well. Junior Katherine Tooley had six saves in goal.

Rhodes will now await the NCAA Championship committee and will find out where they will be playing their first game on May 7th at 9:30 PM on the NCAA.com selection show.