Thursday, March 7
San Antonio, TX
7:00 p.m. CT
Rice University
at
UTSA
Preview: No. 24 Owls Close Out C-USA Season at UTSA
3/6/2019 10:56:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Tip-off set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+
No. 24/RV Rice Owls (24-3, 15-0) at UTSA Roadrunners (7-20, 2-13 C-USA)
Game 28 • Thursday, Mar. 7, 2019 • 7 p.m. (CT)
San Antonio, Texas • Convocation Center
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @UTSAWBB
Series Record: UTSA leads, 11-9 (Last: Won 85-54, 1/10/19)
No. 24 Owls Conclude C-USA Season at UTSA
The No. 24 Rice Owls will put a bow on the C-USA regular season this Thursday on ESPN+ when they travel to San Antonio for the second meeting of the season against the UTSA Roadrunners. Rice defeated UTSA (85-54) back on Jan. 10 in Houston and will be vying to set a single-season school record on Thursday for wins (24; 2004-05 season).
AP Top-25
For a third straight week the Owls appeared in the AP Top 25, staying at 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 33 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 17-game winning streak, the nation's third-longest active win streak behind Baylor (19) and Quinnipiac (18). A win on Thursday would also give the Owls sole possession of the 2nd-longest win streak in C-USA history, surpassing both Houston (17; 2010-11) and Middle Tennessee (17; 2013-14).
Longest Active NCAA Win Streak
1. No. 1 Baylor - 20
2. Quinnipiac - 18
3. No. 24 Rice - 17
Scouting UTSA
The Roadrunners have lost 11 of their last 12 games overall and are 6-9 at home this season. Marie Benson leads UTSA in scoring (15.6 ppg), rebounding (10.6 rpg), total blocks (35), and total steals (36). As a team the Roadrunners ranks third in rebounds per game (29.6) and fourth in blocked shots (89).
C-USA Dominance
The Owls are 15-0 in Conference USA play and are winning by a margin of 18.3 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.
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.
Ring It Up
On Feb. 23 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.
Shutdown Defense
Rice ranks 6th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53.2 points per game on 35.1 percent shooting (11th in the nation). During league play the Owls have stepped up their defense even more, surrendering a league-low 47.3 points per game on 32.3 percent shooting. The Owls have held 17 straight opponents below 70 points and 19 straight opponents below 45 percent shooting.
Efficient on Both Ends
The Owls lead all C-USA teams in both field goal percentage (47.0-13th in NCAA) and defensive field goal percentage (35.1-11th 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 69 wins (22, 23, 24) 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.
Up Next
The Owls head to Frisco, Texas as the No. 1 seed at the Conference USA Tournament held at The Star. Rice's first game will come in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Mar. 14 at 11 a.m. CT against the winner of 8/9 opening round matchup.
Game 28 • Thursday, Mar. 7, 2019 • 7 p.m. (CT)
San Antonio, Texas • Convocation Center
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @UTSAWBB
Series Record: UTSA leads, 11-9 (Last: Won 85-54, 1/10/19)
No. 24 Owls Conclude C-USA Season at UTSA
The No. 24 Rice Owls will put a bow on the C-USA regular season this Thursday on ESPN+ when they travel to San Antonio for the second meeting of the season against the UTSA Roadrunners. Rice defeated UTSA (85-54) back on Jan. 10 in Houston and will be vying to set a single-season school record on Thursday for wins (24; 2004-05 season).
AP Top-25
For a third straight week the Owls appeared in the AP Top 25, staying at 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 33 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 17-game winning streak, the nation's third-longest active win streak behind Baylor (19) and Quinnipiac (18). A win on Thursday would also give the Owls sole possession of the 2nd-longest win streak in C-USA history, surpassing both Houston (17; 2010-11) and Middle Tennessee (17; 2013-14).
Longest Active NCAA Win Streak
1. No. 1 Baylor - 20
2. Quinnipiac - 18
3. No. 24 Rice - 17
Scouting UTSA
The Roadrunners have lost 11 of their last 12 games overall and are 6-9 at home this season. Marie Benson leads UTSA in scoring (15.6 ppg), rebounding (10.6 rpg), total blocks (35), and total steals (36). As a team the Roadrunners ranks third in rebounds per game (29.6) and fourth in blocked shots (89).
C-USA Dominance
The Owls are 15-0 in Conference USA play and are winning by a margin of 18.3 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.
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.
Ring It Up
On Feb. 23 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.
Shutdown Defense
Rice ranks 6th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53.2 points per game on 35.1 percent shooting (11th in the nation). During league play the Owls have stepped up their defense even more, surrendering a league-low 47.3 points per game on 32.3 percent shooting. The Owls have held 17 straight opponents below 70 points and 19 straight opponents below 45 percent shooting.
Efficient on Both Ends
The Owls lead all C-USA teams in both field goal percentage (47.0-13th in NCAA) and defensive field goal percentage (35.1-11th 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 69 wins (22, 23, 24) 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.
Up Next
The Owls head to Frisco, Texas as the No. 1 seed at the Conference USA Tournament held at The Star. Rice's first game will come in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Mar. 14 at 11 a.m. CT against the winner of 8/9 opening round matchup.
-RiceOwls.com-
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