Saturday, March 7
Houston, TX
3:30 pm CT
Rice University
vs
Old Dominion
Photo by: Juan DeLeon
Preview: Owls to Battle ODU for C-USA Championship on Senior Day
3/6/2020 3:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Special presentation set pre-game for Ogwumike
Rice Owls (20-8, 15-2) vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (24-5, 14-3)
Game 29 • Saturday, Mar. 7, 2020 • 3:30 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video Stream: CUSAtv
Listen: RiceOwls.com
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB
Promotions: Buy one ticket to get in to both the men's and women's game HERE.
Owls Host ODU for C-USA Championship
With already a share of the C-USA regular season title in their back pocket, the Rice Owls will look to win their second outright conference title in as many seasons on Saturday when they host Old Dominion on Senior Day. Rice will be looking to avenge their 66-59 overtime loss to the Monarchs back on Feb. 13. A win on Saturday would give the Owls their third outright regular season title in program history and second in C-USA. They also won the WAC title in 2004-05.
About Old Dominion
The Monarchs are 2-2 in their last four games after winning their previous 11 games. ODU leads the nation in three-point field goal defense (23.6%) and is 12th in the NCAA in scoring defense (54.7 ppg). Four different Monarchs are averaging double-figures in points, led by senior Taylor Edwards (11.9 ppg).
Last Time Out
The Owls clinched at least a share of the Conference USA regular season title by defeating the UTEP Miners 82-59 Thursday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice got the job done on Thursday by hitting a season-best 12 three-pointers on 23 attempts (52%) leading to a season-high 82 points. Senior guard Erica Ogwumike notched her team-leading 13th double-double of the season with a game-high 24 points and 16 rebounds. Rice junior guard Sydne Wiggins matched her career-high with 18 points, knocking down a career-best six three-pointers on seven attempts to go along with a game-high six assists and five steals.
One Last Dance for Ogwumike
Saturday will mark the final regular season home game for senior guard Erica Ogwumike, who during her tenure has won 71 games with the Owls and been a part of two C-USA Championship teams. Ogwumike ranks first in school history in scoring average (17.7 ppg), is second in rebounds per game (10.1 rpg) and third in free throw percentage (81.1%). In addition, Ogwumike ranks sixth in Rice history in total points (1,577) and fifth in total rebounds (900) in just three seasons in the Blue and Gray. Ogwumike penned a letter to the Rice fan base that can be read HERE.
Home Sweet Home
The Owls are 12-1 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season, their lone loss coming to then No. 5 Texas A&M, 62-61. Rice has won 10 consecutive games at home and are 38-2 at Tudor Fieldhouse over the last three seasons. Dating back to 2018, the Owls have won 17 consecutive home games over C-USA opponents.
20-20-20-20
Rice's victory on Thursday clinched the team's fourth consecutive season with 20 or more wins under Rice head coach Tina Langley, a new program record for consecutive years accomplishing the feat. Rice has compiled 93 wins (22, 23, 28, 20) over the last four seasons, the greatest stretch in program history.
Conference Dominance
The Owls have won 34 of their last 36 conference contests dating back to 2018 and just saw the nation's fourth-longest conference winning streak come to an end on Feb. 13. The 30 straight wins over C-USA opponents was the longest in league history. Rice is defeating their C-USA opponents this season by an average of 8.9 points per game.
No Points for You
Dating back to last season the Owls have held 50 straight opponents below 70 points. Through 28 games Rice is surrendering just 57.4 points per game (36th in NCAA) with an opponents shooting percentage of 36.5% (39th in NCAA). Last year's reigning NCAA shot blocker Nancy Mulkey has picked up where she left off last season and is currently eighth in the country in blocks per game (3.09). Meanwhile junior guard Sydne Wiggins ranks sixth in C-USA in total steals (50).
What's Next
The Owls, who will finish as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, will await their opponent for the Quarterfinals of next week's C-USA Championship in Frisco, Texas at The Ford Center at The Star. Rice will play on Thursday, Mar. 12 with an opponent and time to be determined.
Game 29 • Saturday, Mar. 7, 2020 • 3:30 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Buy Tickets: RiceOwls.com
Video Stream: CUSAtv
Listen: RiceOwls.com
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB
Promotions: Buy one ticket to get in to both the men's and women's game HERE.
Owls Host ODU for C-USA Championship
With already a share of the C-USA regular season title in their back pocket, the Rice Owls will look to win their second outright conference title in as many seasons on Saturday when they host Old Dominion on Senior Day. Rice will be looking to avenge their 66-59 overtime loss to the Monarchs back on Feb. 13. A win on Saturday would give the Owls their third outright regular season title in program history and second in C-USA. They also won the WAC title in 2004-05.
About Old Dominion
The Monarchs are 2-2 in their last four games after winning their previous 11 games. ODU leads the nation in three-point field goal defense (23.6%) and is 12th in the NCAA in scoring defense (54.7 ppg). Four different Monarchs are averaging double-figures in points, led by senior Taylor Edwards (11.9 ppg).
Last Time Out
The Owls clinched at least a share of the Conference USA regular season title by defeating the UTEP Miners 82-59 Thursday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice got the job done on Thursday by hitting a season-best 12 three-pointers on 23 attempts (52%) leading to a season-high 82 points. Senior guard Erica Ogwumike notched her team-leading 13th double-double of the season with a game-high 24 points and 16 rebounds. Rice junior guard Sydne Wiggins matched her career-high with 18 points, knocking down a career-best six three-pointers on seven attempts to go along with a game-high six assists and five steals.
One Last Dance for Ogwumike
Saturday will mark the final regular season home game for senior guard Erica Ogwumike, who during her tenure has won 71 games with the Owls and been a part of two C-USA Championship teams. Ogwumike ranks first in school history in scoring average (17.7 ppg), is second in rebounds per game (10.1 rpg) and third in free throw percentage (81.1%). In addition, Ogwumike ranks sixth in Rice history in total points (1,577) and fifth in total rebounds (900) in just three seasons in the Blue and Gray. Ogwumike penned a letter to the Rice fan base that can be read HERE.
Home Sweet Home
The Owls are 12-1 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season, their lone loss coming to then No. 5 Texas A&M, 62-61. Rice has won 10 consecutive games at home and are 38-2 at Tudor Fieldhouse over the last three seasons. Dating back to 2018, the Owls have won 17 consecutive home games over C-USA opponents.
20-20-20-20
Rice's victory on Thursday clinched the team's fourth consecutive season with 20 or more wins under Rice head coach Tina Langley, a new program record for consecutive years accomplishing the feat. Rice has compiled 93 wins (22, 23, 28, 20) over the last four seasons, the greatest stretch in program history.
Conference Dominance
The Owls have won 34 of their last 36 conference contests dating back to 2018 and just saw the nation's fourth-longest conference winning streak come to an end on Feb. 13. The 30 straight wins over C-USA opponents was the longest in league history. Rice is defeating their C-USA opponents this season by an average of 8.9 points per game.
No Points for You
Dating back to last season the Owls have held 50 straight opponents below 70 points. Through 28 games Rice is surrendering just 57.4 points per game (36th in NCAA) with an opponents shooting percentage of 36.5% (39th in NCAA). Last year's reigning NCAA shot blocker Nancy Mulkey has picked up where she left off last season and is currently eighth in the country in blocks per game (3.09). Meanwhile junior guard Sydne Wiggins ranks sixth in C-USA in total steals (50).
What's Next
The Owls, who will finish as the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, will await their opponent for the Quarterfinals of next week's C-USA Championship in Frisco, Texas at The Ford Center at The Star. Rice will play on Thursday, Mar. 12 with an opponent and time to be determined.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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