Saturday, December 21
San Juan, Puerto Rico
3:00 pm CT
Rice University
-56,00 CUSA
52
vs
54
Georgia Tech
9-2,0-0ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
16
12
6
18
52
Georgia Tech
11
13
12
18
54
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Owls Fall to Georgia Tech in Final Seconds
12/21/2019 8:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – A jumper by Georgia Tech's Kierra Fletcher with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner in Rice's 54-52 setback Saturday afternoon in the final game of the Coqui Classic.
Rice (5-6) had erased a five-point deficit in the final 43 seconds of the fourth quarter before Fletcher's game-winning score. The Owls had one last opportunity to win the game but Erica Ogwumike's three-point attempt was just off the mark as the horn sounded.
In their final non-conference game of the season, the Owls were led in scoring by sophomore Jasmine Smith, who scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field (2-of-2 at the free throw line). Freshman Lauren Schwartz also reached double-figures with 12 points, which included a pair of three-point makes. Ogwumike added nine points and a team-best seven rebounds.
Georgia Tech (10-2) received a game-high 20 points from Francesca Pan and 15 points by Fletcher.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Rice outscored the Yellow Jackets 16-11 in the opening quarter behind nine points from Smith. Ogwumike and Smith hit consecutive three-pointers to start the game and the Owls shot 40 percent from the field in the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Owls stretched their lead to 23-11 with a 7-0 run to start the period, which included five straight points from sophomore guard Sydne Wiggins. Tech managed to chip away in the closing minutes of the quarter, trimming the Rice advantage to 28-24 at the half.
Third Quarter
The Yellow Jackets outscored Rice 12-6 in the quarter, limiting the Owls to 3-of-11 shooting from the field and five turnovers. Pan scored seven of Tech's points in the period as the Yellow Jackets took a 36-34 lead to the fourth following a field goal at the buzzer from Schwartz.
Fourth Quarter
After a back and forth battle that saw five lead changes in the period, Rice took a 47-44 lead with 3:10 remaining following a layup from Smith. However, Pan responded with five straight points and Lotta-Maj Lahtinen followed with a made three-pointer to give Tech a 52-47 edge with 43 seconds left.
Schwartz would respond with a clutch three-pointer to bring the Owls to within 52-50 and then Tech proceeded to turn the ball over with 18 seconds remaining. Ogwumike drew a foul with nine seconds left and made a pair of critical free throws to tie the game at 52-52. However, Fletcher answered back with the game-winning mid-range fadeaway.
Up Next
The Owls will open up Conference USA play on Thursday, Jan. 2 when they host Marshall at 7 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
Rice (5-6) had erased a five-point deficit in the final 43 seconds of the fourth quarter before Fletcher's game-winning score. The Owls had one last opportunity to win the game but Erica Ogwumike's three-point attempt was just off the mark as the horn sounded.
In their final non-conference game of the season, the Owls were led in scoring by sophomore Jasmine Smith, who scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field (2-of-2 at the free throw line). Freshman Lauren Schwartz also reached double-figures with 12 points, which included a pair of three-point makes. Ogwumike added nine points and a team-best seven rebounds.
Georgia Tech (10-2) received a game-high 20 points from Francesca Pan and 15 points by Fletcher.
First Quarter
Rice outscored the Yellow Jackets 16-11 in the opening quarter behind nine points from Smith. Ogwumike and Smith hit consecutive three-pointers to start the game and the Owls shot 40 percent from the field in the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Owls stretched their lead to 23-11 with a 7-0 run to start the period, which included five straight points from sophomore guard Sydne Wiggins. Tech managed to chip away in the closing minutes of the quarter, trimming the Rice advantage to 28-24 at the half.
Third Quarter
The Yellow Jackets outscored Rice 12-6 in the quarter, limiting the Owls to 3-of-11 shooting from the field and five turnovers. Pan scored seven of Tech's points in the period as the Yellow Jackets took a 36-34 lead to the fourth following a field goal at the buzzer from Schwartz.
Fourth Quarter
After a back and forth battle that saw five lead changes in the period, Rice took a 47-44 lead with 3:10 remaining following a layup from Smith. However, Pan responded with five straight points and Lotta-Maj Lahtinen followed with a made three-pointer to give Tech a 52-47 edge with 43 seconds left.
Schwartz would respond with a clutch three-pointer to bring the Owls to within 52-50 and then Tech proceeded to turn the ball over with 18 seconds remaining. Ogwumike drew a foul with nine seconds left and made a pair of critical free throws to tie the game at 52-52. However, Fletcher answered back with the game-winning mid-range fadeaway.
The Owls will open up Conference USA play on Thursday, Jan. 2 when they host Marshall at 7 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
GaTech
FG%
.417
.368
3FG%
.316
.200
FT%
1.000
.818
RB
27
38
TO
14
10
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09