The Berry women's basketball team put together a strong second half performance but it wasn't enough to overcome halftime deficit as the Vikings were handed a 68-60 by host Rhodes in a Southern Athletic Association clash Friday night in Memphis, Tenn.
 
                The loss gives Berry a 7-6 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the SAA heading into an unexpected break. The Vikings learned Thursday that their conference game scheduled for Sunday in Conway, Ark., against Hendrix was canceled due to Covid-related issues the Warriors are experiencing.
 
                On Friday, Rhodes (10-2, 2-0) broke out to a 42-27 halftime lead buy had to fight off a determined Berry squad in the second half as the Vikings outscored the Lynx 16-8 in the third period to pull to within seven heading into the final stanza.
 
                A three-pointer by Delaney Noe in the opening minute of the fourth quarter trimmed the home team's lead to six, but that was as close the Vikings would get.
 
                Kish Chandler led Berry with 14 points, while Noe had nine and Sydney Blankenship added eight.
 
                The Vikings return home to host their first games of 2022 next weekend at The Cage when Berry entertains SAA opponents Centre at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 14 and Sewanee on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m.