Wednesday, December 16
Houston, TX
2 P.M.
Rice University
-40,00 CUSA
83
vs
51
Louisiana
1-3,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana
13
12
13
13
51
Rice
24
18
21
20
83
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Owls Top Ragin’ Cajuns, 83-51
12/16/2020 5:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – After a 10-day layoff, the Rice Owls women's basketball team showed little to no rust by defeating the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 83-51 Wednesday afternoon, improving to 4-0 on the season.
The Owls shot a season-best 63.6 percent from the field while also dishing out a season-high 23 assists on their 31 made field goals. All 10 players who saw action registered points, including a game-high 18 points from senior center Nancy Mulkey.
The Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year was perfect from the field (8-of-8) and made both free throw attempts. Mulkey's performance from the floor was second only to Zoe Rogers (9-of-9 from the field on 2-25-10) in the Rice record book for most made field goals without a miss.
Junior guard Haylee Swayze was second on the team in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, her fourth straight game in double-figures. Sophomore Lauren Schwartz added 10 points while Katelyn Crosthwait and Destiny Jackson contributed nine points apiece.
Rice remained the only unbeaten team in C-USA with a stingy effort on the defensive end of the floor as well, holding Louisiana (1-3) to just 27 percent shooting. The Owls dominated the paint once again with a 42-12 advantage over the Ragin' Cajuns and won the fast break (21-4) and bench scoring (33-18) battles.
Rice Head Coach Tina Langley
Postgame Reaction
"I thought everyone contributed today. That's the type of box score you like to see. It's encouraging to see the way everyone is preparing and our ability to grow as a team. I was very proud of the way we approached this game."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls jumped on the Ragin' Cajuns from the get-go by building an early 18-5 advantage in the first seven minutes. Crosthwait scored all nine of her points during that stretch on three made three-pointers. Rice missed just two shots (7-of-9) from the field in the quarter and led 24-13 after one period.
Second Quarter
Rice was able to stretch the lead to 17 points at halftime, 42-25, thanks to a 10-2 run over the final six minutes. Seven different Owls scored in the quarter while Rice held Louisiana to 3-of-13 shooting. All 18 points in the quarter from Rice came in the paint.
Third Quarter
The Owls put the game out of reach quickly in the third, starting the quarter on a 14-0 run capped by a Sydne Wiggins three-pointer to make the score 56-25 with 6:10 remaining. Schwartz scored seven points in the period while Mulkey added an additional six points.
Fourth Quarter
Rice never saw their lead dip below 21 points the rest of the way as the Owls closed strong by outscoring the Ragin' Cajuns 20-13 in the final period.
Up Next
Rice concludes the non-conference season on Sunday, Dec. 20 when they travel to College Station to take on the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.
The Owls shot a season-best 63.6 percent from the field while also dishing out a season-high 23 assists on their 31 made field goals. All 10 players who saw action registered points, including a game-high 18 points from senior center Nancy Mulkey.
The Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year was perfect from the field (8-of-8) and made both free throw attempts. Mulkey's performance from the floor was second only to Zoe Rogers (9-of-9 from the field on 2-25-10) in the Rice record book for most made field goals without a miss.
Junior guard Haylee Swayze was second on the team in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, her fourth straight game in double-figures. Sophomore Lauren Schwartz added 10 points while Katelyn Crosthwait and Destiny Jackson contributed nine points apiece.
Rice remained the only unbeaten team in C-USA with a stingy effort on the defensive end of the floor as well, holding Louisiana (1-3) to just 27 percent shooting. The Owls dominated the paint once again with a 42-12 advantage over the Ragin' Cajuns and won the fast break (21-4) and bench scoring (33-18) battles.
Postgame Reaction
"I thought everyone contributed today. That's the type of box score you like to see. It's encouraging to see the way everyone is preparing and our ability to grow as a team. I was very proud of the way we approached this game."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls jumped on the Ragin' Cajuns from the get-go by building an early 18-5 advantage in the first seven minutes. Crosthwait scored all nine of her points during that stretch on three made three-pointers. Rice missed just two shots (7-of-9) from the field in the quarter and led 24-13 after one period.
Second Quarter
Rice was able to stretch the lead to 17 points at halftime, 42-25, thanks to a 10-2 run over the final six minutes. Seven different Owls scored in the quarter while Rice held Louisiana to 3-of-13 shooting. All 18 points in the quarter from Rice came in the paint.
Third Quarter
The Owls put the game out of reach quickly in the third, starting the quarter on a 14-0 run capped by a Sydne Wiggins three-pointer to make the score 56-25 with 6:10 remaining. Schwartz scored seven points in the period while Mulkey added an additional six points.
Fourth Quarter
Rice never saw their lead dip below 21 points the rest of the way as the Owls closed strong by outscoring the Ragin' Cajuns 20-13 in the final period.
Rice concludes the non-conference season on Sunday, Dec. 20 when they travel to College Station to take on the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
LA
Rice
FG%
.271
.633
3FG%
.300
.538
FT%
.867
.778
RB
21
42
TO
14
19
STL
9
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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