Rice University
Baylor
Tenth-ranked Baylor Tops Rice 83-58
11/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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HOUSTON--Rice freshman guard D'Frantz Smart scored a career-high 14 points, passed out six assists and made five steals, but the tenth-ranked Baylor Lady Bears defeated the Owls 83-58 Sunday afternoon at the new Tudor Fieldhouse on the Rice campus.
Baylor jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the first six minutes and led by 20 at the half, 45-25, over previously undefeated Rice.. The Lady Bears stretched the margin to as many as 32, 59-27, early in the second period. The Owls then proceeded to go an 18-7 run to make it a 66-45 game with 6:33 remaining. The Blue & Gray however could not get any closer and suffered its first loss to fall to 2-1.
All five Baylor starters scored in double-digit points, led by Rachel Allison's 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Lady Bears out-rebounded Rice 52-38, including a 34-15 on the Owls' offensive side.
Smart led Rice in scoring for the first time in her young career and was one of two Owls in double-figure points on the day. Fellow freshman Megan Elliott scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in 15 minutes of work, but most of that was in the first half after getting in foul trouble.
The Owl fouls began to get contagious as Elliott, Smart and starting guard Tara Watts all finished with four fouls. Baylor attempted a total of 38 free throws in the 40 minutes and made more (25) than Rice even attempted (19). Rice head coach Greg Williams, now in his fourth season at the helm of the program, remained positive with his young team.
"Baylor's a good team that played well," coach Williams said. "I thought we played well at times and I saw some things we can build on. We have to learn to play harder and tougher, and then sustain that level. We'll get there. We have to see if we can get there by Tuesday (for the next game). That's a quick turnaround."
Rice will get just a brief rest, less than 48 hours, before returning to the court for its next game. The Owls next host Furman at Tudor Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The special start time for the midweek contest is set for 12 noon.
