Game Recap: Rhodes vs. Westminster College (Mo.)

The Rhodes College women's basketball team tipped off its 2025–26 season in dominant fashion Friday night, defeating Westminster (Mo.) 69–43 inside Mallory Gymnasium. The Lynx set the tone early with high-pressure defense and consistent scoring, leading from start to finish in the wire-to-wire victory.

Key Performances

Junior AC Milam led the way with a stellar all-around outing, pouring in 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including four three-pointers, while adding 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Her energy and leadership guided the Lynx on both ends of the floor.

Senior guard Avery Marsh followed with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals, facilitating the offense with poise and efficiency. Juliet Howell matched Marsh with 12 points and pulled down 8 rebounds, providing interior presence and control on the glass.

Mackenzie McKown added 6 points and 6 rebounds, while Audrey Griffith came off the bench to knock down two threes for 8 points. Freshman Annabelle Tobin made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut with 5 points in 10 minutes of play.

Game Highlights

Rhodes jumped out to a 17–8 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, extending the margin to double digits by halftime. The Lynx's defense forced 26 turnovers, converting them into 27 points, and held Westminster to just 32% shooting from the field.

The Lynx dominated the boards, 47–40, and showed balanced scoring across the roster. A strong third-quarter surge, highlighted by Milam's sharpshooting and Howell's inside play, put the game out of reach as Rhodes built a 20-point cushion heading into the fourth.
 

Game Recap: Rhodes vs. Hanover College

The Rhodes College women's basketball team battled through a physical contest on Saturday afternoon but came up short against a sharp-shooting Hanover squad, falling 80–57 inside Mallory Gymnasium. After a competitive first half, the Panthers pulled away in the second with efficient perimeter shooting and strong interior play.

Key Performances

Senior guard Avery Marsh continued her strong start to the season, leading the Lynx with 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 7-of-12 from the field. AC Milam followed with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals, maintaining her two-way impact on both ends of the floor.

Off the bench, Alyssa Bongiovanni provided an offensive spark, going 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line for 11 points. Mackenzie McKown added 6 points and 6 rebounds, while Juliet Howell chipped in 5 points and 5 boards.

Game Highlights

Rhodes came out with intensity in the first quarter, shooting over 50% from the floor and trading baskets with Hanover early. The Lynx trailed just 37–30 at halftime, but Hanover found their rhythm from beyond the arc in the second half, hitting 44% of their three-pointers for the game. Despite Rhodes shooting a solid 40% from the field, turnovers and rebounding margins allowed the Panthers to pull away down the stretch.

Up Next: Rhodes vs. East Texas Baptist University

The Lynx move to 1–1 on the season and will look to rebound against East Texas Baptist University on November 14 at 5:30 PM. With two early-season tests behind them, Rhodes aims to refine its defensive rotations and continue developing offensive chemistry before conference play begins.