MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Rhodes opened the game shooting 66.7% from three point range and 51.7% in the first half and ended the game better than 50% from both to defeat Southwestern 88-75 on Saturday night despite SU having 25 more shot attempts during the game.
The Pirates came out strong and seemed to have the lead they needed, pulling ahead by eight, 13-5 three minutes into the contest. Rhodes came back within five points, 19-14, with 13:21 on the clock but the Pirates responded with a strong push and led by 13, 33-20 with 9:14 to play in the half.
Southwestern went cold, however, only scoring nine points in the final nine minutes of the half, allowing Rhodes to pull within three points, 45-42, heading into halftime.
As the second half got underway the Pirates maintained a slight advantage over the Lynx until Jaime Maxey's three pointer gave Rhodes a two point lead for the first time with 17:00 minutes to go.
Chelsea Leeder answered with a three pointer of her own and Shae Seagraves followed with a jumper, putting SU back on top by three, 54-51, just 30 seconds later.
Southwestern held onto the lead through the next eight minutes but couldn't pull ahead by more than six points allowing the Lynx to stay within striking distance. Three ties and three lead changes over the next three minutes kept fans on the edge of their seat and Rhodes took control with just over five minutes on the clock, leading 74-73.
The Pirates were held to just two points in the final five minutes while Rhodes rattled off 14 points, 11 from the free throw line, to seal the victory.
Anna Fareed had a team high 18 points while Seagraves added in 16, Reilly Robertson (pictured) 12 and Katelyn Bartell 11. Seagraves also led the Pirates iwth eight rebounds. Rhodes' Sharwil Bell led all scorers with 31 points.
The loss drops Southwestern to 13-7 on the year and 5-6 in the SCAC. They were the only team in the West to compete on Saturday night and will anxiously wait to see results from Sunday's matches to see where they fall in the West.
SU remains on the road next weekend as they head to Hendrix and Millsaps for two games that will be immensely important in the race to the postseason.
