Rice University
Lamar
Lamar Beats Rice 73-52 in Women's Basketball Action
1/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2011
Houston - Kalis Loyd led four Lamar players in double-digit scoring with 17 points as the Lady Cardinals ended Rice's three-game winning streak with a 73-52 victory inside Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls are now 8-6 on the year heading into Conference USA action on Jan. 6 at home vs. UCF. Lamar, the defending Southland Conference champions, improves to 10-3 on the season.
"Lamar is a really good basketball team," commented Owl head coach Greg Williams. "We did not have any energy and we did not follow our scouting report for today's game.
Lamar began the contest by making field goals on its first six possessions to take a 12-7 lead. Back-to-back buckets by the Owls' Candace Ashford cut the Lady Cardinals' lead to only five at 23-18 at 7:04. Lamar then outscored Rice 9 to 4 to close out the first half.
The Lady Cardinals half court zone gave Rice fits as the Owls committed 14 turnovers and shot only 33 percent. Lamar tallied 16 points off of the Rice miscues.
"We did not attack the zone and Lamar exploited that aspect," said Williams.
In the first 8:21 of the second half, Lamar outscored the Owls 22 to 5 for a commanding 54-27 lead. The Lady Cardinals finished with only 11 turnovers to Rice's 21.
Also scoring in double-digits for the Lady Cardinals were Monique Whittaker (16), Trashana Smith (13), and point guard Jenna Plumley tallied 12 points with 6 assists, only 2 turnovers, and two steals. Smith also snared a team-high 9 rebounds.
Rice's Jessica Kuster posted her third straight double-double and team-leading fourth of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Scoring 9 points were Brianna Hypolite and Jessica Goswitz. Candace Ashford came off the bench and battled hard with 8 rebounds and 4 points.
Following Thursday's UCF contest, the Owls hit the road to play at Tulsa on Sunday, January 9 (2 p.m.).
