Saturday, December 15
Houston, TX
4:00 p.m. CT
Rice University
7-2
66
vs
52
SMU
5-5
1
2
3
4
F
SMU
8
8
24
12
52
Rice
19
21
19
7
66
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Owls Notch Seventh Straight Win, Defeat SMU 66-52
12/15/2018 8:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mulkey scores 14 points, 5 blocks in debut
HOUSTON – Erica Ogwumike recorded her fifth double-double (18 points/11 rebounds) of the season while Nancy Mulkey added 14 points and five blocks in her collegiate debut to help lead the Rice Owls to a 66-52 victory over SMU Saturday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse, the team's seventh straight win overall.
Rice (7-2) never trailed in the contest and led by as much as 29 points in the opening half, notching their 15th consecutive non-conference home victory dating back to 2016.
The Owls limited SMU (5-5) to just 34 percent shooting for the game, 1-of-12 from deep (8.3 percent), while making nine three-pointers of their own on 25 attempts (36 percent). Rice limited SMU to just 16 first half points on 25 percent shooting to go along with 10 turnovers.
Rice also outscored the Mustangs in second chance points, 17-8.
Ogwumike made 6-of-16 shots from the field, including a 4-of-7 performance from beyond the arc, recording her 20th double-double of her career. Mulkey, a redshirt sophomore center from Cypress, Texas, converted 6-of-12 shots from the floor in 19 minutes, including the Owls first five points of the game.
Rice Head Coach Tina Langley
"I thought this was a very solid team win against a good SMU team. I was proud of the way we came out and played really well on both ends of the floor. We shared the ball on the offensive end and competed very hard defensively."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Quarter 1
The Owls outscored SMU 19-8 in the opening period, scoring 12 points in the paints and nine second chance points. Mulkey scored Rice's first five points of the game, which included a three-point on the game's first possession. Rice broke open a 7-6 lead by outscoring the Mustangs 12-2 in the final three minutes, including a three-pointer by Lauren Grigsby as the quarter horn sounded.
Quarter 2
Rice dominated SMU in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 21-8 behind 54 percent shooting and five made three-pointers. The Owls held SMU scoreless for the first seven minutes of the quarter, going on an 18-0 run over that stretch. Ogwumike scored 10 consecutive points to open the period, which three made three-pointers. SMU shots just 4-of-15 in the quarter and committed 10 turnovers, which resulted in 15 points for the Owls.
Quarter 3
Despite SMU outscoring Rice 24-19 in the third quarter, the Owls took a 59-40 lead to the fourth on the heels of another buzzer-beating three-pointer, this time from Sydne Wiggins.
Quarter 4.
The Mustangs held a 12-7 advantage in scoring in the final period but never let the lead dip below 14 points.
UP NEXT
The Owls begin a stretch of five consecutive road games, beginning Dec. 18 against North Carolina as part of the Carolinas Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Rice will then face Coastal Carolina on Dec. 20. Both games are set to begin at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Visit www.RiceOwls.com and follow @RiceWBB on Twitter for more on the Owls all season long.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (7-2) never trailed in the contest and led by as much as 29 points in the opening half, notching their 15th consecutive non-conference home victory dating back to 2016.
The Owls limited SMU (5-5) to just 34 percent shooting for the game, 1-of-12 from deep (8.3 percent), while making nine three-pointers of their own on 25 attempts (36 percent). Rice limited SMU to just 16 first half points on 25 percent shooting to go along with 10 turnovers.
Rice also outscored the Mustangs in second chance points, 17-8.
Ogwumike made 6-of-16 shots from the field, including a 4-of-7 performance from beyond the arc, recording her 20th double-double of her career. Mulkey, a redshirt sophomore center from Cypress, Texas, converted 6-of-12 shots from the floor in 19 minutes, including the Owls first five points of the game.
"I thought this was a very solid team win against a good SMU team. I was proud of the way we came out and played really well on both ends of the floor. We shared the ball on the offensive end and competed very hard defensively."
Quarter 1
The Owls outscored SMU 19-8 in the opening period, scoring 12 points in the paints and nine second chance points. Mulkey scored Rice's first five points of the game, which included a three-point on the game's first possession. Rice broke open a 7-6 lead by outscoring the Mustangs 12-2 in the final three minutes, including a three-pointer by Lauren Grigsby as the quarter horn sounded.
Quarter 2
Rice dominated SMU in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 21-8 behind 54 percent shooting and five made three-pointers. The Owls held SMU scoreless for the first seven minutes of the quarter, going on an 18-0 run over that stretch. Ogwumike scored 10 consecutive points to open the period, which three made three-pointers. SMU shots just 4-of-15 in the quarter and committed 10 turnovers, which resulted in 15 points for the Owls.
Quarter 3
Despite SMU outscoring Rice 24-19 in the third quarter, the Owls took a 59-40 lead to the fourth on the heels of another buzzer-beating three-pointer, this time from Sydne Wiggins.
Quarter 4.
The Mustangs held a 12-7 advantage in scoring in the final period but never let the lead dip below 14 points.
The Owls begin a stretch of five consecutive road games, beginning Dec. 18 against North Carolina as part of the Carolinas Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Rice will then face Coastal Carolina on Dec. 20. Both games are set to begin at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Visit www.RiceOwls.com and follow @RiceWBB on Twitter for more on the Owls all season long.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
SMU
RICE
FG%
.339
.410
3FG%
.083
.360
FT%
.786
.778
RB
40
36
TO
18
15
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB Press Conference - UAB 2-25-25
Wednesday, February 26
WBB Press Conference - Florida Atlantic 2-18-25
Wednesday, February 19
WBB Press Conference - Tulsa 1-29-25
Thursday, January 30
WBB Press Conference - East Carolina 1-18-25
Saturday, January 18