Memphis - It was a beautiful day on the campus of Rhodes College as the top seeded Lynx hosted No. 3 seeded Centre College in the 2019 Southern Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Tournament Championship. The Lynx got off to a slow start as Centre pressured the Lynx in the midfield. Rhodes led 8-7 with 12:38 to play before scoring five straight goals on their way to a 6-3 run to end the game. The 14-10 victory is the 11th consecutive win for the Lynx who have now won five straight SAA Tournament Championships. 

Aidan Pike scored early as the Lynx took the lead just 35 seconds after the game began but a free position goal for the Colonels tied the game a minute later. Centre pressured the Lynx in the midfield who committed three failed clears in a row, before Centre took their only lead with 20:29 to go in the first half. Five straight goals gave the Lynx a 6-2 lead until Centre closed the half with two goals. 

In the second half, Sarah Delahunt scored first for Rhodes before Centre posted a goal and Payton Bennett answered with a man-up goal to give Rhodes an 8-5 lead. Centre posted two man-up goals to pull within one before Rhodes went on another five-goal run to lead 13-7 with 5:25 to go. Centre closed the game on a 3-1 run as they finish the year 14-5 overall. 

Centre managed to hold a 14-12 draw control advantage and a 35-28 shot advantage, the first time a conference opponent has done so this season. It was a highly contested game as Centre received four yellow cards and Rhodes was handed three yellows and two green cards.

Rhodes goalkeeper Lauren Lazure made 17 saves in the game including 10 in the second half to help keep Rhodes' season alive. Junior Aubrey Gray led Rhodes with four points on two goals and two assists while freshman Peyton Bennett recorded a hat trick. Freshman Baylee Barker led the Lynx with five draw controls while Centre's Mary Katherine Hardy led the game with eight. 

With the win, the Lynx will head back to the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The 2019 selection show will be on ncaa.com on Sunday, May 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET.  

2019 SAA Women's Lacrosse All-Tournament Team:

Rhodes- Lauren Lazure (MVP), Payton Bennett, Baylee Barker, Daly Colarossi

Centre- Mary Katherine Hardy, Katy Haering, Amelia Tomasulo

Sewanee- Grace Fulton, Kelly Thomsenf

Hendrix- Morgan Dasch, Allison Watanabee

BSC- Katie Gleeson

Oglethorpe- Clarissa Hopkins