Saturday, March 2
Houston, TX
2:00 p.m. CT
Rice University
vs
Louisiana Tech
Preview: Owls Host LA Tech on Senior Day
3/1/2019 10:09:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final regular season home game of magical season
No. 24/RV Rice Owls (23-3, 14-0 C-USA) vs. Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (14-13, 6-8 C-USA)
Game 27 • Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @LATechWBB
Series Record: LA Tech leads, 15-9 (Rice W last meeting, 61-51 on Jan. 5, 2019)
#FillTheFieldhouse: A special promotion will be available for Saturday's game with two tickets for $5 by going to RiceOwls.com/Top25 to redeem your tickets. They can also be redeemed at the box office or by calling (713) 348-OWLS. In addition, giveaways will include "Fill The Fieldhouse" t-shirts (1st 250), C-USA Championship posters (1st 250), and Rice Rally towels (1st 400).
No. 24 Owls Host LA Tech on Senior Day
On the heels of their highest AP ranking in program history, the No. 24 Rice Owls are set to host Louisiana Tech in the home finale this Saturday on ESPN+. Rice defeated the Lady Techsters 61-51 back on Jan. 5 and will be vying to tie a school record for wins in a season (24; 2004-05 season). Saturday will mark the final home contest for seniors Nicole Iademarco, Lauren Grigsby, Shani Rainey and Olivia Ogwumike and a special pregame ceremony will take place to honor them.
About LA Tech
The Lady Techsters are coming off a pair of road losses but have won four of their last six overall. Senior guard Kierra Anthony leads the way, ranking fourth in the nation with 24.3 points per game on 49.5 percent shooting. Louisiana Tech leads all C-USA teams in turnovers forced (17.7 per game) and leads the league in free throw percentage (73.3%).
Moving on Up
For a second straight week the Owls appeared in the AP Top 25, moving up to No. 24 on Monday, the highest ranking in program history. The Owls made their first ever appearance (No. 25) in the AP Top 25 Poll on Feb. 18. In addition, the Owls received 37 votes in this week's USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, just missing out on entering the Top-25.
Third-Longest Win Streak in the Nation
The Owls enter play riding a school record 16-game winning streak, the nation's third-longest winning streak behind Baylor (18) and Quinnipiac (17). A win on Saturday would tie Houston (2010-11) and Middle Tennessee (2013-14) for the second-longest win streak in C-USA history.
Longest Rice Win Streaks Longest Active NCAA Win Streak
2018-19: 16 straight (current) 1. Baylor - 18
2004-05: 12 straight 2. Quinnipiac - 17
2003-04: 12 straight 3. Rice - 16
Ring It Up
Last Saturday the Owls clinched their first-ever C-USA regular season title and just the second in program history, joining the 2005 team that went 24-9 and won the WAC title. Rice has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the C-USA Tournament, which will take place Mar. 14-16 at The Star in Frisco.
C-USA Dominance
The Owls are 14-0 in Conference USA play and are winning by a margin of 17.1 points per game during league play. Rice has already secured their most wins in C-USA since joining the league in 2005 and are one of just seven teams undefeated in conference play. 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 7th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53.6 points per game on 35.5 percent shooting (16th 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 32.6 percent shooting. The Owls have held 16 straight opponents below 70 points and 18 straight opponents below 45 percent shooting.
Home Sweet Home
Rice is 12-0 at Tudor Fieldhouse and has a 25-1 record on their home floor over the last 1.5 seasons. The Owls are one of just eight undefeated teams at home this season and they'll be attempting to complete just the second single-season undefeated home record (13-0 in 1997-98) in program history. Their 14-game home win streak dating back to last season is the sixth-longest in the nation and tops in C-USA. Over the last three years under head coach Tina Langley the Owls have a 38-6 record at Tudor Fieldhouse, which includes 16 straight wins over non-conference opponents.
Efficient on Both Ends
The Owls lead all C-USA teams in both field goal percentage (46.7-15th in NCAA) and defensive field goal percentage (35.5-16th 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 68 wins (22, 23, 23) 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 clinched their first Conference USA regular season title in program history, defeating the North Texas Mean Green 59-47 last Saturday afternoon at The Super Pit. Rice notched their 16th consecutive victory overall, maintaining the nation's second-longest active win streak in the country. Sophomore center Nancy Mulkey led all players with 24 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. Mulkey made 10-of-15 shots from the field and scored 18 of her 24 points in the second half. Senior guard Nicole Iademarco (12 points) also scored in double-figures and made three of the Owls' six made three-pointers.
Ogwumike Living Up to Expectations
Junior guard Erica Ogwumike has backed up being named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, ranking 19th in the nation and first in C-USA with 15 double-doubles. Ogwumike, who is averaging 16.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, is 11th in the nation in defensive rebounding (8.0 rpg), the second-best rate by a guard. Ogwumike has recorded a double-double in eight of her last 10 games overall.
Mulkey Madness
Rice sophomore center Nancy Mulkey leads all of C-USA in total blocks (67), 13th in the nation, despite missing the first eight games of the season due to injury. Mulkey broke the C-USA single-game and school record with 9 blocks at UAB on Jan. 26 and swatted away eight shots at MT on Jan. 24. Although she doesn't yet qualify for the NCAA blocks per game title (must play in 75% of team's games), her 3.72 blocks per game rate would be second in the nation. Since Mulkey re-joined the Owls on Dec. 15 Rice has a 17-1 record. She's the only player in the NCAA this season to record 8 or more blocks in a game three times.
Road Warriors
After starting the season 0-2 on the road, the Owls have reeled off 10 consecutive road victories away from Tudor Fieldhouse, which trails only Drexel (14) for the longest active road win streak in the country.
Up Next
The Owls will conclude the C-USA regular season on Mar. 7 at UTSA with tip-off set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Game 27 • Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019 • 2 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @LATechWBB
Series Record: LA Tech leads, 15-9 (Rice W last meeting, 61-51 on Jan. 5, 2019)
#FillTheFieldhouse: A special promotion will be available for Saturday's game with two tickets for $5 by going to RiceOwls.com/Top25 to redeem your tickets. They can also be redeemed at the box office or by calling (713) 348-OWLS. In addition, giveaways will include "Fill The Fieldhouse" t-shirts (1st 250), C-USA Championship posters (1st 250), and Rice Rally towels (1st 400).
No. 24 Owls Host LA Tech on Senior Day
On the heels of their highest AP ranking in program history, the No. 24 Rice Owls are set to host Louisiana Tech in the home finale this Saturday on ESPN+. Rice defeated the Lady Techsters 61-51 back on Jan. 5 and will be vying to tie a school record for wins in a season (24; 2004-05 season). Saturday will mark the final home contest for seniors Nicole Iademarco, Lauren Grigsby, Shani Rainey and Olivia Ogwumike and a special pregame ceremony will take place to honor them.
About LA Tech
The Lady Techsters are coming off a pair of road losses but have won four of their last six overall. Senior guard Kierra Anthony leads the way, ranking fourth in the nation with 24.3 points per game on 49.5 percent shooting. Louisiana Tech leads all C-USA teams in turnovers forced (17.7 per game) and leads the league in free throw percentage (73.3%).
Moving on Up
For a second straight week the Owls appeared in the AP Top 25, moving up to No. 24 on Monday, the highest ranking in program history. The Owls made their first ever appearance (No. 25) in the AP Top 25 Poll on Feb. 18. In addition, the Owls received 37 votes in this week's USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, just missing out on entering the Top-25.
Third-Longest Win Streak in the Nation
The Owls enter play riding a school record 16-game winning streak, the nation's third-longest winning streak behind Baylor (18) and Quinnipiac (17). A win on Saturday would tie Houston (2010-11) and Middle Tennessee (2013-14) for the second-longest win streak in C-USA history.
Longest Rice Win Streaks Longest Active NCAA Win Streak
2018-19: 16 straight (current) 1. Baylor - 18
2004-05: 12 straight 2. Quinnipiac - 17
2003-04: 12 straight 3. Rice - 16
Ring It Up
Last Saturday the Owls clinched their first-ever C-USA regular season title and just the second in program history, joining the 2005 team that went 24-9 and won the WAC title. Rice has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the C-USA Tournament, which will take place Mar. 14-16 at The Star in Frisco.
C-USA Dominance
The Owls are 14-0 in Conference USA play and are winning by a margin of 17.1 points per game during league play. Rice has already secured their most wins in C-USA since joining the league in 2005 and are one of just seven teams undefeated in conference play. 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 7th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53.6 points per game on 35.5 percent shooting (16th 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 32.6 percent shooting. The Owls have held 16 straight opponents below 70 points and 18 straight opponents below 45 percent shooting.
Home Sweet Home
Rice is 12-0 at Tudor Fieldhouse and has a 25-1 record on their home floor over the last 1.5 seasons. The Owls are one of just eight undefeated teams at home this season and they'll be attempting to complete just the second single-season undefeated home record (13-0 in 1997-98) in program history. Their 14-game home win streak dating back to last season is the sixth-longest in the nation and tops in C-USA. Over the last three years under head coach Tina Langley the Owls have a 38-6 record at Tudor Fieldhouse, which includes 16 straight wins over non-conference opponents.
Efficient on Both Ends
The Owls lead all C-USA teams in both field goal percentage (46.7-15th in NCAA) and defensive field goal percentage (35.5-16th 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 68 wins (22, 23, 23) 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 clinched their first Conference USA regular season title in program history, defeating the North Texas Mean Green 59-47 last Saturday afternoon at The Super Pit. Rice notched their 16th consecutive victory overall, maintaining the nation's second-longest active win streak in the country. Sophomore center Nancy Mulkey led all players with 24 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. Mulkey made 10-of-15 shots from the field and scored 18 of her 24 points in the second half. Senior guard Nicole Iademarco (12 points) also scored in double-figures and made three of the Owls' six made three-pointers.
Ogwumike Living Up to Expectations
Junior guard Erica Ogwumike has backed up being named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, ranking 19th in the nation and first in C-USA with 15 double-doubles. Ogwumike, who is averaging 16.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, is 11th in the nation in defensive rebounding (8.0 rpg), the second-best rate by a guard. Ogwumike has recorded a double-double in eight of her last 10 games overall.
Mulkey Madness
Rice sophomore center Nancy Mulkey leads all of C-USA in total blocks (67), 13th in the nation, despite missing the first eight games of the season due to injury. Mulkey broke the C-USA single-game and school record with 9 blocks at UAB on Jan. 26 and swatted away eight shots at MT on Jan. 24. Although she doesn't yet qualify for the NCAA blocks per game title (must play in 75% of team's games), her 3.72 blocks per game rate would be second in the nation. Since Mulkey re-joined the Owls on Dec. 15 Rice has a 17-1 record. She's the only player in the NCAA this season to record 8 or more blocks in a game three times.
Road Warriors
After starting the season 0-2 on the road, the Owls have reeled off 10 consecutive road victories away from Tudor Fieldhouse, which trails only Drexel (14) for the longest active road win streak in the country.
Up Next
The Owls will conclude the C-USA regular season on Mar. 7 at UTSA with tip-off set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09