MEMPHIS, TN - The Mississippi College women's basketball team opened the 2011-12 season with 56-39 loss to Rhodes College on Tuesday night at Mallory Gymnasium.
The Lady Choctaws (0-1) trailed by just six points at halftime, but the Lynx (2-1) held MC scoreless for over 11 minutes in the second half to pull away for the 17-point victory.
Sophomore Bianca Maiden scored the first two points of the game on a lay-up off of the opening tip. Amber Johnson sparked a 9-0 run for Rhodes with a three-pointer, and the Lynx never relinquished the lead.
With 8:30 remaining in the first half, junior Ebony Williams converted a three-point play to cut the lead to 19-17, but Rhodes closed out the half with a 33-27 advantage.
In the second half, senior Jamie Lack cut the lead to 43-37 with 11:23 to go, but it would be the last points MC would score until the final seconds of the game.
Rhodes held the Lady Choctaws to just 21% shooting in the second half and just 12 points. MC also turned the ball over 20 times.
Williams led the Lady Choctaws with nine points and six rebounds, while Maiden scored six points and also pulled down six boards.
Sharwil Bell and Sarah Womack led Rhodes with 12 points apiece, while Dy'nelle Todman poured in 10. Bell finished just one rebound shy of a double-double.
The Lynx also held an advantage with eight three-pointers made in the contest.
The Lady Choctaws will move on to face Texas Lutheran on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Seguin, TX. The game marks the start of conference play.