Jackson, Miss. - Rhodes women's basketball came back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime and defeat host Millsaps 71-68 to advance to the Southern Athletic Association Tournament Championship game on Sunday. The championship appearance is the first for the Lynx since 2015 when they defeated Millsaps in Jackson for the title and NCAA appearance. 

Down 49-40, Rhodes posted a 17-8 fourth period, including a game-tying layup (57-57) from sophomore Lindsey Whiteside who drove to the basket with 21 seconds. Millsaps had led 54-53 for three minutes when neither team could sink the ball through the hoop. The Majors secured a jump shot and then Lynx freshman Alli Mayeux pulled down an offensive board and cut the lead to one on a put-back under the basket. With 30 seconds left, Rhodes was charged a foul. Rhodes was forced to foul as the Majors had time to run out the clock. Millsaps missed the first free throw attempt, then went up again by two on the second attempt. Rhodes called their final timeout with 25 seconds left to advance the ball across mid-court. Whiteside got the inbounds pass and immediately took to the basket to tie the game. The Majors tried to secure the buzzer-beating layup but the ball circled the rim and fell down as time ran out.

Rhodes took their first lead of the game since 3:35 left in the first half when freshman Kiera Downey made a jump shot to open overtime. A Millsaps offensive foul, coupled with an Alyssa Owens three-pointer gave Rhodes a five-point advantage. The Majors pulled within two (62-60) but a 6-2 run from the Lynx, all scored by Allie Young, gave Rhodes a 68-64 advantage with 51 seconds to go. Millsaps again cut the lead to two, but fouled, which sent Downey to the line to secure two free throws. Another Millsaps bucket threatened Rhodes' lead once again, but the Majors were forced to foul with eight seconds left in the game. Mayeux secured her second attempt at the line to give Rhodes a three-point lead. A block from Owens on a last-second trey attempt by the hosts secured Rhodes' spot in the SAA Championship game. 

In what felt like a championship game, both teams laid everything on the line. Three Lynx posted double-doubles as Rhodes out-rebounded Millsaps 51-43 and committed half as many turnovers. Whiteside led the game with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in her first double-double of the season. Moriah Muhammad tallied 12 rebounds and 10 points off the bench and Mayeux recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds. Also recording double-digits for the Lynx was Young with 11 points. Downey led the team with three steals and four assists. Alyssa Owens narrowly missed double digits with nine points, eight rebounds and three treys. 

Millsaps was led by Dia Fortenberry with 17 points and Braxton Thomas with 12 points and nine rebounds. 

Seeded fourth, Rhodes' SAA Tournament Championship appearance will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 24, in Jackson, Miss. against No. 2-seeded Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe defeated No. 6-seeded Centre 54-35.