Owls Open Hoops Season at Mississippi
11/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2005
Oxford, Miss. -
Rice will officially open the Greg Williams era in women's basketball Friday at 7 pm as the first-year head coach leads the Owls into the 2005-06 season-opening game at Mississippi.
Coming off the most successful season in school history with a 24-9 record, a WAC championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament, Rice will be looking to live up to the team's billing as preseason Conference USA favorites.
"We are excited to finally get on the floor in a game that counts," Williams said. "The preseason work has been done and we have been very pleased with the progress the players made in learning a new system. Now it's time to put it all into action and see how we match up against a good team from the best conference in women's basketball."
Despite the loss of Maudess Fulton, who was the Owls' starting one guard in the first two exhibition games before injuring her knee against the Houston Jaguars, Rice has plenty of weapons to throw at Mississippi.
C-USA preseason player of the year Lauren Neaves had 30 points and 24 rebounds in 45 minutes of exhibition action, and the 6-2 junior forward leads the Owls' attack. Neaves will team up inside with 6-4 sophomore post Valeriya Berezhynska, who scored in double figures in both preseason games.
Kadie Riverin and Krystal Frazier will direct the Rice offense from the one and two guard spots, and both players have been impressive under Williams' up-tempo style. Riverin had 13 assists and only one turnover in the exhibition games, while Frazier's speed gives Rice an added dimension on the break. Whitney McCauley will take over for Fulton in the starting rotation and has been the Owls' top long-range shooter thus far with six three-pointers at a 50 percent clip.
Sophomore forward Tiffany Loggins had 11 points and four steals against the Jaguars and will be one of the first players off the bench. Freshman Emery Carter also had an impressive outing in the final preseason game, dropping in nine points and grabbing six boards in just 10 minutes against the Jaguars.
Mississippi is picked to finish fifth in the SEC, and features preseason all-America guard candidate Armintie Price. The 5-9 junior averaged 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game last year and has been touted by ESPN as the top two-guard in the country. The Lady Rebels were 19-11 last year and made a second-straight NCAA tournament appearance. Mississippi is 2-0 all-time against Rice.
Friday's game will be broadcast on KTRU, 91.7 FM in Houston, and on the web at www.ktru.org/ktruwmp2002.asx. It will also be webcast at www.olemisssports.tv.
