Saturday, February 23
Denton, TX
3:00 p.m. CT
Rice University
at
North Texas
Preview: No. 25 Owls Set to Face North Texas in Denton
2/21/2019 10:36:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game streamed Saturday on ESPN+ at 3 p.m.
No. 25 Rice Owls (22-3, 13-0) at North Texas Mean Green (14-11, 7-6 C-USA)
Game 26 • Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 • 3 p.m. (CT)
Denton, Texas • The Super Pit
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @MeanGreenWBB
Series Record: Rice leads, 9-4 (Last: Won 64-52, 1/19/19)
A First for Everything
After picking up votes for three consecutive weeks, the Owls entered the AP Top 25 on Monday for the first time in program history, coming in at No. 25. In addition, the Owls received votes for the first time this season in this week's USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
Second-Longest Win Streak in the Nation
Out to their best record through 25 games in program history, the Owls hit the road this Saturday for a showdown at North Texas on ESPN+. The Owls currently have the second-longest active win streak (15) in the nation, trailing only No. 1 Baylor (16). Rice's 15-game win streak is the longest in program history and tied with UTEP (2011-12) for the fourth-longest in C-USA history.
Longest Rice Win Streaks Longest Active NCAA Win Streak
2018-19: 15 straight (current) 1. No. 1 Baylor - 16
2004-05: 12 straight 2. No. 25 Rice - 15
2003-04: 12 straight
Scouting North Texas
The Mean Green has won three straight and four of five overall, currently holding the No. 7 seed in Conference USA. Rice defeated NT earlier this season 64-52 on Jan. 19 at Tudor Fieldhouse. In that contest, Erica Ogwumike scored a game-high 18 points while Nancy Mulkey contributed 15 points and 6 blocks. Senior guard Terriell Bradley is fourth in C-USA in scoring (17.2 ppg) and the Mean Green rank second as a team in rebounding (39.9 rpg).
C-USA Dominance
The Owls are 13-0 in Conference USA play and are winning by a margin of 17.4 points per game during league play. Rice has led start-to-finish in 8 of the 13 games. Rice has already secured their most wins (13) in C-USA since joining the league in 2005. Only Houston (16-0; 2010-11) and UTEP (16-0; 2007-08) have completed perfect C-USA seasons in league history, neither of which won their respective conference tournaments.
Shutdown Defense
Rice ranks 6th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53.9 points per game on 35.4 percent shooting (18th in the nation). During league play the Owls have stepped up their defense even more, surrendering a league-low 47.7 points per game on 32.3 percent shooting. The Owls have held 15 straight opponents below 70 points and 18 straight opponents below 45 percent shooting.
Ogwumike Living Up to Expectations
Junior guard Erica Ogwumike has backed up being named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, ranking 13th in the nation and first in C-USA with 15 double-doubles. Ogwumike, who is averaging 16.3 points and 11.0 rebounds, is 9th in the nation in defensive rebounding (9.0 rpg), the second-best rate by a guard. Ogwumike has recorded a double-double in six straight games and eight of her last nine overall. The Cypress, Texas native is just 47 points away from 1,000 career points at Rice.
Efficient on Both Ends
The Owls lead all C-USA teams in both field goal percentage (46.5-17th in NCAA) and defensive field goal percentage (35.4-18th in NCAA).
20-20-20
The Owls have reached the 20-win plateau for a third straight season under head coach Tina Langley, marking just the second time in school history that Rice has reached 20 or more wins in three consecutive seasons. Rice has compiled 67 wins (22, 23, 21) over the last three years, the greatest stretch in program history. The Owls last accomplished the feat of three straight 20-win seasons from 1997-00.
Last Time Out
The Owls extended their historic winning streak to 15 straight victories by clamping down defensively in a 63-35 victory over Florida Atlantic last Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice became the first team in the nation this season to improve to 13-0 in conference play by limiting FAU to 23.5 percent shooting and just eight first half points, tied for the second-fewest allowed by an Owls team in program history. The 35 points allowed by the Owls was tied for the second-lowest output by a Conference USA opponent this season and the fewest allowed by a Rice team since surrendering 31 points to UTEP in 2007.
Road Warriors
After starting the season 0-2 on the road, the Owls have reeled off nine consecutive true road victories away from Tudor Fieldhouse, which trails only Drexel (12) for the longest active road win streak in the country.
Up Next
The Owls return to Houston for their regular season home finale on Mar. 2 (2 p.m.) when they host Louisiana Tech on Senior Day at Tudor Fieldhouse. A special ticket package (2 tickets for $5) is available at RiceOwls.com/Top25. Tickets can be redeemed online, at the box office, or by calling (713) 348-OWLS.
-RiceOwls.com-
Game 26 • Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 • 3 p.m. (CT)
Denton, Texas • The Super Pit
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @MeanGreenWBB
Series Record: Rice leads, 9-4 (Last: Won 64-52, 1/19/19)
A First for Everything
After picking up votes for three consecutive weeks, the Owls entered the AP Top 25 on Monday for the first time in program history, coming in at No. 25. In addition, the Owls received votes for the first time this season in this week's USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
Second-Longest Win Streak in the Nation
Out to their best record through 25 games in program history, the Owls hit the road this Saturday for a showdown at North Texas on ESPN+. The Owls currently have the second-longest active win streak (15) in the nation, trailing only No. 1 Baylor (16). Rice's 15-game win streak is the longest in program history and tied with UTEP (2011-12) for the fourth-longest in C-USA history.
Longest Rice Win Streaks Longest Active NCAA Win Streak
2018-19: 15 straight (current) 1. No. 1 Baylor - 16
2004-05: 12 straight 2. No. 25 Rice - 15
2003-04: 12 straight
Scouting North Texas
The Mean Green has won three straight and four of five overall, currently holding the No. 7 seed in Conference USA. Rice defeated NT earlier this season 64-52 on Jan. 19 at Tudor Fieldhouse. In that contest, Erica Ogwumike scored a game-high 18 points while Nancy Mulkey contributed 15 points and 6 blocks. Senior guard Terriell Bradley is fourth in C-USA in scoring (17.2 ppg) and the Mean Green rank second as a team in rebounding (39.9 rpg).
C-USA Dominance
The Owls are 13-0 in Conference USA play and are winning by a margin of 17.4 points per game during league play. Rice has led start-to-finish in 8 of the 13 games. Rice has already secured their most wins (13) in C-USA since joining the league in 2005. Only Houston (16-0; 2010-11) and UTEP (16-0; 2007-08) have completed perfect C-USA seasons in league history, neither of which won their respective conference tournaments.
Shutdown Defense
Rice ranks 6th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53.9 points per game on 35.4 percent shooting (18th in the nation). During league play the Owls have stepped up their defense even more, surrendering a league-low 47.7 points per game on 32.3 percent shooting. The Owls have held 15 straight opponents below 70 points and 18 straight opponents below 45 percent shooting.
Ogwumike Living Up to Expectations
Junior guard Erica Ogwumike has backed up being named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, ranking 13th in the nation and first in C-USA with 15 double-doubles. Ogwumike, who is averaging 16.3 points and 11.0 rebounds, is 9th in the nation in defensive rebounding (9.0 rpg), the second-best rate by a guard. Ogwumike has recorded a double-double in six straight games and eight of her last nine overall. The Cypress, Texas native is just 47 points away from 1,000 career points at Rice.
Efficient on Both Ends
The Owls lead all C-USA teams in both field goal percentage (46.5-17th in NCAA) and defensive field goal percentage (35.4-18th in NCAA).
20-20-20
The Owls have reached the 20-win plateau for a third straight season under head coach Tina Langley, marking just the second time in school history that Rice has reached 20 or more wins in three consecutive seasons. Rice has compiled 67 wins (22, 23, 21) over the last three years, the greatest stretch in program history. The Owls last accomplished the feat of three straight 20-win seasons from 1997-00.
Last Time Out
The Owls extended their historic winning streak to 15 straight victories by clamping down defensively in a 63-35 victory over Florida Atlantic last Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice became the first team in the nation this season to improve to 13-0 in conference play by limiting FAU to 23.5 percent shooting and just eight first half points, tied for the second-fewest allowed by an Owls team in program history. The 35 points allowed by the Owls was tied for the second-lowest output by a Conference USA opponent this season and the fewest allowed by a Rice team since surrendering 31 points to UTEP in 2007.
Road Warriors
After starting the season 0-2 on the road, the Owls have reeled off nine consecutive true road victories away from Tudor Fieldhouse, which trails only Drexel (12) for the longest active road win streak in the country.
Up Next
The Owls return to Houston for their regular season home finale on Mar. 2 (2 p.m.) when they host Louisiana Tech on Senior Day at Tudor Fieldhouse. A special ticket package (2 tickets for $5) is available at RiceOwls.com/Top25. Tickets can be redeemed online, at the box office, or by calling (713) 348-OWLS.
-RiceOwls.com-
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