Women's Basketball: Lady Owls Hold Off Bearkats
11/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
- Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Senior Marla Brumfield broke out of her recent slump with 22 points to lead Rice past Sam Houston State 74-69 Monday at Huntsville.
Despite stellar shooting in the first half by the Lady Owls, the Bearkats stayed in the game on the strength of 13 of 16 shots from the free throw line and took a 35-29 advantage into the lockerroom. Rice made .520 of its first-half shots and held a 16-11 rebounding edge at the break.
The Lady Owls stepped up their intensity in the second half and, with 13:14 remaining, went on an 11-0 run to reclaim the lead for good. The Bearkats closed the lead to two with 33 seconds remaining, but three consecutive free throws by Kim Smallwood iced the game for the Lady Owls. Brumfield had 15 points in the half and was seven-of-eight from the charity stripe in the second to help her team pull away down the stretch.
In addition to her 22 points, Brumfield finished with game highs of 11 rebounds and eight assists. Senior Kirra Jordan was the only other Owl to score in double digits, adding 13 points, and led the team with four steals. Smallwood finished with 11 boards and dished out three assists.
Tara Treat led Sam Houston State with 15 points and seven boards, while Mandy Frazer added 14 points, and Stacy Allen chipped in 12. Brenda Abakwue came off the bench to key the Bearkats in the second, scoring nine straight points for her team.
The Lady Owls finished the game with their best shooting percentage of the year, making .509 (28-55) of their shots, while limiting their opponents to .396 (19-48) from the floor.
After four games away from home, Rice returns to the friendly confines of Autry Court this weekend, hosting the Gene Hackerman Rice Invitational. First-round action begins Friday at 6 pm with New Mexico State taking on Michigan, before the Lady Owls face Massachusetts at 8 pm.
