Owls Back in Action Thursday at Louisiana Tech
12/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2006
Ruston, La. -
After an almost two-week break for final exams, Rice hits the court again Thursday at Ruston, La., as the Owls face old WAC foe Louisiana Tech in women's basketball. Rice has a 7-3 record entering the game, while the Lady Techsters are 4-7.
The Owls won their own Gene Hackerman Invitational on Dec. 9 with an 88-69 decision over Idaho State, and senior forward Lauren Neaves earned tournament MVP honors after contributing 23 points and 18 rebounds in two wins. Kadie Riverin also garnered all-tournament recognition, and Samantha Stovall had two of her best games in a Rice uniform, including a 13-point, five steal effort against Idaho State.
Neaves needs seven rebounds to take over the top spot on the Rice women's all-time list, and with her 15th board she will hit the 1,000 mark for her career. Only two men in Rice history have grabbed 1,000 or more rebounds in a career.
Ranked ninth nationally with 11.0 rebounds a game, Neaves also leads the Owls in scoring at a 17.5 ppg clip. Riverin (10.7) and Valeriya Berezhynska (10.4) also average in double figures scoring. Rice is 26th nationally in scoring offense at 76.5 ppg, and 24th in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 35.1 percent accuracy.
Ty Moore leads the Lady Techsters with 13.4 ppg, and Shan Moore adds 12.3 ppg. Ty Moore is also the team's top glass-master with 9.2 rebounds on average.
Rice returns to action Dec. 29 against Kansas State at the Florida International tournament in Miami.
