Rice University
UAB
Rice Burns UAB 58-52
1/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2011
Houston - D'Frantz Smart scored a game-high 16 points and freshman rebounding wiz Jessica Kuster grabbed a game-high 20 rebounds to lead the Rice Owls to a 58-52 Conference USA women's basketball victory over visiting UAB inside Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice is now 11-9 overall and 3-3 in C-USA, while the Blazers drop to 9-10 on the season and 1-5 in C-USA action.
Kuster's 20 rebounds tied her with four other Owls for the third-most boards in a game. It also ties Tulsa's Denise Lewis (vs. Texas A&M International) for most rebounds in a game this season. However, Kuster's 20 rebounds are the most this season in a contest between two C-USA schools. It was also the ninth time this season that Kuster has had 10 or more rebounds in a game.
Smart scored in double-digits for the first time since she tallied 10 at No. 8 Texas A&M on Nov. 20. Also in double-digit scoring for Rice were Morgan Mayse with 13 and Jessica Goswitz with 11 points. Mayse also had 9 rebounds, while Kuster had a game-high 4 blocks.
The Blazers jumped out to a 6-0 start, but the Owls clawed their back to force three ties in the first half. Rice did not have its first lead (24-23) until D'Frantz Smart drained a three at the buzzer off of one leg, avoiding the defense. The Owls shot 29 percent to UAB's 43.5 percent. Smart led Rice with 8 points and Jessica Goswitz had 7.
Mayse scored the first five points of the second half for Rice, pushing its lead to 29-23. Following two made free throws by Goswitz and a put back by Kuster at 14:09, the Owls were ahead 38-27, capping a 14-4 run.
UAB closed to within 8 (48-40), but Rice's Memri Carmon drilled a trey deep in the right corner to give the Owls room to breathing. UAB then scored on driving layups on two straight possessions and following a three by Karisma Chapman the Blazers were only down by three (55-52) with 24 ticks on the clock.
Smart then made one of two free throws for a four-point margin (56-52) and Mayse rebounded Destiny Samuels' miss and was fouled. She then calmly made both free throws for the final margin.
UAB was led in scoring by a trio of Blazers. Amber Jones led the squad with 15 points, while LaShaunda Pratt scored 13 and Karisma Chapman added 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Rice is on the road Thursday, January 27 when it plays at C-USA-leading Tulane (16-3, 5-1). Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. (Central).
