Saturday, February 29
Ruston, LA
2:00 pm CT
Rice University
-198,142 CUSA
73
at
60
Louisiana Tech
-1314,511 CUSA
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Rice
12
17
11
16
17
73
Louisiana Tech
16
21
11
8
4
60
Owls Take Down Lady Techsters in Overtime
2/29/2020 5:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RUSTON, LA – The Rice Owls women's basketball team used a 23-point turnaround to rally from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit and defeat the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters in overtime, 73-60 Saturday afternoon at Thomas Assembly Center.
Rice (19-8, 14-2) outscored Tech (13-14, 5-11) by a combined margin of 33-12 in the fourth quarter and OT to remain tied with Old Dominion for first place in Conference USA with two games remaining in the regular season.
The Owls placed four players in double-figures in scoring, led by 22 points from junior center Nancy Mulkey. Reigning C-USA Player of the Week Erica Ogwumike secured her 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds while sophomore guard Jasmine Smith also contributed 15 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. Freshman Lauren Schwartz added 12 points, including a game-tying layup in the final seconds of regulation to force the extra five minutes.
Rice outshot Tech (52%-36%) from the field and registered 19 assists to just 11 turnovers. The Owls also dominated the paint, outscoring the Lady Techsters 36-18.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Tech outscored Rice 16-12 in the opening 10 minutes, using an 11-4 run over the final four minutes. Mulkey scored six points on 3-of-6 shooting while Ogwumike added four more points. Grayson Bright scored eight points for the Lady Techsters in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers.
Second Quarter
Rice shot 54 percent from the field but Tech was even more efficient at a 73 percent clip, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep. Smith helped keep the Owls within striking distance by scoring eight points in the quarter on 3-of-4 shooting, however, Rice still trailed at halftime 37-29.
Third Quarter
The two teams played to an 11-11 tie as each squad made just four field goals apiece. Mulkey scored 6 of the 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Fourth Quarter
Five different Owls registered points in the fourth, where Rice outscored Tech 16-8 thanks in part to a stingy defense that held the Lady Techsters to 23 percent shooting. Trailing 54-44 with seven minutes remaining, the Owls went on a 10-0 run over the next five minutes with Ogwumike scoring five points and assisting on a Mulkey layup.
A Sydne Wiggins pull-up jumper tied the game at 54-54 with 2:14 remaining but Tech's Amber Dixon scored on the next possession to regive the Lady Techster the lead. Trailing 56-54 with 14 seconds remaining, Rice drew up a brilliant play to free up Schwartz under the basket for the game-tying layup with 12 seconds left. Dixon had two three-point looks in the closing seconds to win the game but drew iron on both, sending the game to OT.
Overtime
Rice dominated the extra session, scoring the first four points on their way to a 17-4 advantage. Wiggins scored five points to lead all players while Ogwumike and Mulkey added four points apiece. The Owls made 5-of-7 field goal attempts and were a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Rice held Tech without a made field goal over the five minutes, giving up just the four points on Dixon free throws.
Up Next
The Owls return to Houston to prepare for their final homestand of the regular season. Rice will first face UTEP on Thursday, Mar. 5 before hosting Old Dominion on Saturday, Mar. 7 on Senior Day.
Rice (19-8, 14-2) outscored Tech (13-14, 5-11) by a combined margin of 33-12 in the fourth quarter and OT to remain tied with Old Dominion for first place in Conference USA with two games remaining in the regular season.
The Owls placed four players in double-figures in scoring, led by 22 points from junior center Nancy Mulkey. Reigning C-USA Player of the Week Erica Ogwumike secured her 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds while sophomore guard Jasmine Smith also contributed 15 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. Freshman Lauren Schwartz added 12 points, including a game-tying layup in the final seconds of regulation to force the extra five minutes.
Rice outshot Tech (52%-36%) from the field and registered 19 assists to just 11 turnovers. The Owls also dominated the paint, outscoring the Lady Techsters 36-18.
First Quarter
Tech outscored Rice 16-12 in the opening 10 minutes, using an 11-4 run over the final four minutes. Mulkey scored six points on 3-of-6 shooting while Ogwumike added four more points. Grayson Bright scored eight points for the Lady Techsters in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers.
Second Quarter
Rice shot 54 percent from the field but Tech was even more efficient at a 73 percent clip, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep. Smith helped keep the Owls within striking distance by scoring eight points in the quarter on 3-of-4 shooting, however, Rice still trailed at halftime 37-29.
Third Quarter
The two teams played to an 11-11 tie as each squad made just four field goals apiece. Mulkey scored 6 of the 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Fourth Quarter
Five different Owls registered points in the fourth, where Rice outscored Tech 16-8 thanks in part to a stingy defense that held the Lady Techsters to 23 percent shooting. Trailing 54-44 with seven minutes remaining, the Owls went on a 10-0 run over the next five minutes with Ogwumike scoring five points and assisting on a Mulkey layup.
A Sydne Wiggins pull-up jumper tied the game at 54-54 with 2:14 remaining but Tech's Amber Dixon scored on the next possession to regive the Lady Techster the lead. Trailing 56-54 with 14 seconds remaining, Rice drew up a brilliant play to free up Schwartz under the basket for the game-tying layup with 12 seconds left. Dixon had two three-point looks in the closing seconds to win the game but drew iron on both, sending the game to OT.
Overtime
Rice dominated the extra session, scoring the first four points on their way to a 17-4 advantage. Wiggins scored five points to lead all players while Ogwumike and Mulkey added four points apiece. The Owls made 5-of-7 field goal attempts and were a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Rice held Tech without a made field goal over the five minutes, giving up just the four points on Dixon free throws.
The Owls return to Houston to prepare for their final homestand of the regular season. Rice will first face UTEP on Thursday, Mar. 5 before hosting Old Dominion on Saturday, Mar. 7 on Senior Day.
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Team Stats
RICE
LATech
FG%
.519
.356
3FG%
.429
.292
FT%
.867
1.000
RB
37
28
TO
11
8
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
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