Memphis - Rhodes College raced out to a 17-1 halftime lead over Transylvania University in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament Sunday afternoon at Mason Field. The Lynx went on to defeat the Pioneers, who made their first-ever NCAA appearance this year 23-9. Transy finishes the 2018 campaign with an 18-2 record. Rhodes will take on Trinity (Conn.) in the Sweet 16 this Saturday, on the campus of Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md.

It was a sweltering Sunday in the South when senior Erin Gleeson scored within the first 30 seconds of the game on an assist from fellow senior Kendall Cunningham. Gleeson would go on to net a career-high five goals in the game. She was assisted on back-to-back goals by junior Annika Hedlund who finished the game with three assists. Meanwhile, all six of Cunningham's goals came in the first half, on just eight shots. 

Transy's second goal of the game came just under six minutes into the second half. Salem Carlow's shot went through multiple Lynx who screened Rhodes' goalkeeper Mallika Rao's view. That would begin a four straight goals for the Pioneers. Carlow led her squad with four points including three goals.

The key to Rhodes' quick lead were draw controls, which senior Ashley Doyle dominated. Doyle tallied 14 for the third time this season, grabbing all but one of Rhodes' draw controls. She also scored on all six shot attempts. In all, Rhodes netted 23 of their 29 shot attempts, with only two going wide of the goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Mallika Rao picked up her fourth win of the year after saving 11 shots. 

For Rhodes, seniors Olivia Holmes and Maggie Rippeto each tallied three points, with Holmes recording a hat trick and Rippeto notching two goals. Also recording points were KK Mulholland (one goal, one assist) and Aubrey Gray (one assist). 

Stay tuned to rhodeslynx.com and social media (@rhodeslynx) for time updates for this weekend's contest against Trinity (Conn.).