Rice University
Tulane
Rice Defeats Tulane 62 to 54
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2009
Tara Watts led four Rice players in double-figures as Rice surged past the Tulane Green Wave to win 62-54 in a Conference USA game at Tudor Fieldhouse. Watts scored 15 points on the strength of four three-pointers and had a team-high 9 rebounds, while Morgan Mayse came off the Rice bench to tally 13 points. Maudess Fulton and Emery Carter added 11 and 10 points respectively for Rice.
For the Owls, it was their first Conference USA win of the season and sixth overall (6-19, 1-11). Tulane, which had defeated Rice 91-63 earlier in the season, dropped to 14-12 and 6-6 in league play.
The Owls started the contest by outscoring Tulane 12-0. The Green Wave was scoreless until the 15:47 mark on a bucket by Megan Valicevic.
The Rice defense was strong the first 20 minutes. Tulane committed 14 turnovers that led to 16 points for the Owls in the first-half. Nine of Tulane's 14 miscues resulted in Rice steals and six of those were by the diminutive D'Frantz Smart, who stands 5'0." Smart finished the game with career-high 7 thefts and also tied her career-high with 8 rebounds to go with 8 points.
The Owls held a commanding 58-41 lead with 2:43 left on a trey by Tara Watts, but Tulane battled back using a trapping full-court press to get some easy buckets. Two three-pointers by Indira Kaljo brought the Green Wave to within 10 (58-48). After Smart made one of two free throws, Tulane scored three straight baskets to be down only five at 59-54 with 55 seconds remaining. Fulton then converted two free throws and Watts tacked on another and the Owls won their first C-USA game of the season.
Tulane's Brett Benzio posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Rice also received contributions from Megan Elliott who scored five points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Carter also had 8 boards as the Owls smothered the Green Wave on the glass 50 to 38.
The Owls now host Tulsa on Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m. and SMU on Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m.
