Thursday, February 13
Norfolk, VA
5:30 pm CT
Rice University
at
Old Dominion
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Preview: WBB Travels to ODU for C-USA Showdown
2/12/2020 11:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Rice Owls (16-6, 11-0) at Old Dominion Monarchs (20-3, 10-1)
Game 23 • Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 • 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Norfolk, Virginia • Chartway Arena
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB
C-USA Showdown in Norfolk
In a classic battle of "something's got to give", the Rice Owls women's basketball team will put their 11-game win streak on the line this Thursday when they travel to Old Dominion, winners of nine straight themselves and 11-0 at home. Rice has won five straight road games while the Monarchs have won 13 consecutive at home dating back to 2019, tied for the 11th-longest streak in the nation. The Owls have won the last three meetings with the Monarchs, including a 48-42 victory at Tudor Fieldhouse last season.
About ODU
The Monarchs have four players averaging double-figures in points, led by Ajah Wayne (11.2 ppg) and Taylor Edwards (11.2 ppg). ODU ranks eighth in the country in scoring defense (53.6 ppg) and is second in opponent's three-point percentage (23.4 percent). ODU is holding opponents to 34 percent shooting, which ranks 13th in the NCAA. They're one of 21 teams in the nation that have already recorded 20 or more wins this season.
Conference Dominance
The Owls have the fourth-longest active conference win streak in the country dating back to 2018, having won 30 straight league contests. Only UConn (145), Baylor (52) and FGCU (39) have won more consecutive conference games than the Owls. The 30 consecutive wins is also the longest conference winning streak in league history. Rice is defeating their C-USA opponents this season by an average of 14.8 points per game. The Owls haven't lost to a C-USA opponent in a span of 715 days dating back to 2018.
Last Time Out
Rice senior guard Erica Ogwumike (25 points) and junior center Nancy Mulkey (20 points) helped lead the Owls to their 11th consecutive win with a 77-60 victory over the Middle Tennessee Lady Raiders last Saturday. The Owls led from start to finish and dominated the Lady Raiders down low, outscoring MT in points in the paint (42-22) and winning the battle of the boards (48-31). Ogwumike secured her ninth double-double of the year with a season-high 17 rebounds to go along with the 25 points.
No Points for You
Dating back to last season the Owls have held 44 straight opponents below 70 points and 47 consecutive opponents below 46 percent shooting. Through 22 games Rice is surrendering just 55.9 points per game (24th in NCAA) with an opponents shooting percentage of 35.2% (22nd in NCAA). Last year's reigning NCAA shot blocker Nancy Mulkey has picked up where she left off last season and is currently fifth in the country in blocks per game (3.42). Meanwhile junior guard Sydne Wiggins ranks sixth in C-USA with 42 steals.
Big Week for Ogwumike
Rice senior guard Erica Ogwumike was selected the USBWA National Player of the Week on Tuesday, the first of such in Rice history. In addition, Ogwumike earned her third C-USA Player of the Week award of the season after averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds on 48.6 percent shooting from the field in a pair of Rice wins over UAB and Middle Tennessee.
Efficient on Offense
The Owls have shot 50 percent from the field or better in six of 11 C-USA contests. Since the turn of the calendar to January, the Owls are shooting 50.3 percent from the field as a team with Ogwumike (20.8 ppg), Mulkey (13.8 ppg), and Wiggins (10.0 ppg) all averaging double-figures in points.
What's Next
The Owls travel to Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 15 (3 p.m.) to face the 49ers (15-7, 6-5) on ESPN+.
Game 23 • Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 • 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Norfolk, Virginia • Chartway Arena
Video Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB
C-USA Showdown in Norfolk
In a classic battle of "something's got to give", the Rice Owls women's basketball team will put their 11-game win streak on the line this Thursday when they travel to Old Dominion, winners of nine straight themselves and 11-0 at home. Rice has won five straight road games while the Monarchs have won 13 consecutive at home dating back to 2019, tied for the 11th-longest streak in the nation. The Owls have won the last three meetings with the Monarchs, including a 48-42 victory at Tudor Fieldhouse last season.
About ODU
The Monarchs have four players averaging double-figures in points, led by Ajah Wayne (11.2 ppg) and Taylor Edwards (11.2 ppg). ODU ranks eighth in the country in scoring defense (53.6 ppg) and is second in opponent's three-point percentage (23.4 percent). ODU is holding opponents to 34 percent shooting, which ranks 13th in the NCAA. They're one of 21 teams in the nation that have already recorded 20 or more wins this season.
Conference Dominance
The Owls have the fourth-longest active conference win streak in the country dating back to 2018, having won 30 straight league contests. Only UConn (145), Baylor (52) and FGCU (39) have won more consecutive conference games than the Owls. The 30 consecutive wins is also the longest conference winning streak in league history. Rice is defeating their C-USA opponents this season by an average of 14.8 points per game. The Owls haven't lost to a C-USA opponent in a span of 715 days dating back to 2018.
Last Time Out
Rice senior guard Erica Ogwumike (25 points) and junior center Nancy Mulkey (20 points) helped lead the Owls to their 11th consecutive win with a 77-60 victory over the Middle Tennessee Lady Raiders last Saturday. The Owls led from start to finish and dominated the Lady Raiders down low, outscoring MT in points in the paint (42-22) and winning the battle of the boards (48-31). Ogwumike secured her ninth double-double of the year with a season-high 17 rebounds to go along with the 25 points.
No Points for You
Dating back to last season the Owls have held 44 straight opponents below 70 points and 47 consecutive opponents below 46 percent shooting. Through 22 games Rice is surrendering just 55.9 points per game (24th in NCAA) with an opponents shooting percentage of 35.2% (22nd in NCAA). Last year's reigning NCAA shot blocker Nancy Mulkey has picked up where she left off last season and is currently fifth in the country in blocks per game (3.42). Meanwhile junior guard Sydne Wiggins ranks sixth in C-USA with 42 steals.
Big Week for Ogwumike
Rice senior guard Erica Ogwumike was selected the USBWA National Player of the Week on Tuesday, the first of such in Rice history. In addition, Ogwumike earned her third C-USA Player of the Week award of the season after averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds on 48.6 percent shooting from the field in a pair of Rice wins over UAB and Middle Tennessee.
Efficient on Offense
The Owls have shot 50 percent from the field or better in six of 11 C-USA contests. Since the turn of the calendar to January, the Owls are shooting 50.3 percent from the field as a team with Ogwumike (20.8 ppg), Mulkey (13.8 ppg), and Wiggins (10.0 ppg) all averaging double-figures in points.
What's Next
The Owls travel to Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 15 (3 p.m.) to face the 49ers (15-7, 6-5) on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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