Preview: Owls Host Charlotte, Old Dominion

Rice Owls (16-3, 7-0 C-USA) vs. Charlotte 49ers (12-8, 4-4 C-USA)
Game 20 • Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWB B | @CharlotteWBB
Series Record: Charlotte leads, 6-2

Rice Owls vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (15-5, 6-2 C-USA)
Game 21 • Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video Stream: ESPN3
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWB B | @ODUWBB
Series Record: Old Dominion leads, 7-3

Owls Look to Keep Making History
Now just one win shy of matching last year's 17-3 start (best 20-game start in program history), the Rice Owls women's basketball team returns home this weekend as one of the nation's hottest teams in the country. Rice hosts Charlotte on Thursday looking for a 10th straight victory, which would stand alone as the third-longest win streak in program history and the longest since the 2004-05 campaign. Rice's nine game win streak is currently tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.

Longest Win Streaks in Program History
2004-05: 12 straight
2003-04: 12 straight
2018-19: 9 straight (current)
2005-06: 9 straight
1981-82: 9 straight

Charlotte Scouting Report
The 49ers have won two straight and four of their last six games overall but are just 1-7 on the road this season. Sophomore Mariah Linney leads Charlotte in scoring (11.3 ppg) during league play while Octavia Jett-Wilson is averaging 10 ppg. Charlotte ranks 56th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (34.9) led by Linney's 43 percent (second in C-USA). The 49ers lead the all-time series over the Owls, 6-2, but Rice has defeated Charlotte in each of the last two seasons.

Old Dominion Scouting Report
After starting C-USA play 0-2, the Monarchs have reeled off six consecutive wins to move into fourth place in the league standings. ODU has shot the 11th-most free throws in the nation and also lead C-USA in rebounds per game (42.1 rpg). Junior guard Taylor Edwards is third in C-USA in asissts per game (4.7) while Ajah Wayne is the league's third leading rebounder (8.8 rpg). ODU leads the all-time series against the Owls, 7-3, with Rice winning each of the last two meetings.

Conference Domination
The Owls are one of just five teams in the nation to start 7-0 in conference play while defeating their opponents by 10 or more points in each victory; joining No. 1 Baylor, No. 2 UConn, No. 6 Mississippi State, and No. 10 Marquette.

National Recognition
On Monday the Owls, who have never been ranked in the Top 25, garnered a vote in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time this season.

Road Warriors
After starting the season 0-2 on the road, the Owls have reeled off seven consecutive victories away from Tudor Fieldhouse, which is tied for the third-longest active road win streak in the nation.

Mulkey Madness
Rice redshirt sophomore Nancy Mulkey was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday after a sensational road trip. Mulkey averaged 17.5 points 8.5 rebounds and 8.0 blocks per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the floor in 32 minutes. The C-USA leader in total blocks (46), Mulkey broke the single-game school record with nine blocks at UAB and swatted away eight shots at MT. Although she doesn't yet qualify for the NCAA blocks per game title (must play in 75% of team's games), her 4.1 blocks per game rate would lead not only all of NCAA but is better than 265 teams as of Monday. Since Mulkey re-joined the Owls on Dec. 15 Rice has a 10-1 record and is allowing just 52.2 points per game on 33.8 percent shooting. Mulkey is the only player in the NCAA this season to record eight or more blocks in a game three times.

Last Time Out
Behind a phenomenal defensive performance and a balanced scoring attack, the Owls recorded a 55-43 road victory at UAB for the team's ninth consecutive win. The Owls held a UAB team that scores 75.3 points per game to 32 points below their season average on 28 percent shooting for the contest. Mulkey flirted with a triple-double, scoring a game-high 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds and posted a second-straight game with eight blocks, yet again tying her own school record for blocks in a game.

Home Sweet Home
Rice has started the season 8-0 at Tudor Fieldhouse and has a 21-1 record on their home floor over the last 1.5 seasons. Their 10-game home win streak dating back to last season is tied for the 12th-longest in the nation and tops in C-USA. Over the last three years under head coach Tina Langley, the Owls have a 35-6 record at Tudor Fieldhouse, which includes 16 straight wins over non-conference opponents.

Ogwumike Living up to Expectations
Rice junior guard Erica Ogwumike, the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, has scored in double-figures in 16 of 18 games and has the second-most double-doubles (9) in C-USA. Ogwumike is averaging a double-double (16.2 points/10.6 rebounds) for the season while shooting 84% at the FT line. She ranks 12th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (8.0) and 29th in the country in total rebounds per contest (10.6).

Up Next
After this weekend, the Owls go back on the road for their final two-game C-USA road trip of the season. Rice will face WKU on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. on CUSAtv followed by an afternoon contest against Marshall on Saturday, Feb. 9 at noon on CUSAtv. The Owls return home Feb. 14 and 16 against FIU and Florida Atlantic, respectively. For ticket information, be sure to visit RiceOwls.com or call (713) 348-OWLS (6957).

-RiceOwls.com-

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