Saturday, January 16
Norfolk, VA
3 P.M.
Rice University
10-1, 6-0
67
at
59
Old Dominion
5-5, 2-4
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
22
16
11
18
67
OLD DOMINION
17
11
18
13
59
Photo by: Keith Lucas
Owls Remain Unbeaten in C-USA
1/16/2021 8:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sweep Old Dominion with 67-59 victory
NORFOLK, Va. – The Rice Owls women's basketball team displayed their grit and determination on Saturday afternoon by defeating the Old Dominion Monarchs 67-59 to sweep the weekend road series.
Rice (10-1, 6-0), who has been receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll for four consecutive weeks, reeled off their sixth consecutive win and improved to 41-2 against conference opponents dating back to 2018.
On Saturday, the shorthanded Owls were once again led by senior center Nancy Mulkey, who scored a season-high 25 points with a 10-of-16 performance from the field (5-of-5 at the line) and registered three blocks in 27 minutes.
Sophomore guard Katelyn Crosthwait almost gave the Owls a double-double with 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds while fellow sophomore guard Lauren Schwartz contributed 6 points and established career-highs in both rebounds (9) and assists (6).
Senior guards Sydne Wiggins (9 points/6 rebounds) and Jasmine Smith (8 points/4 assists/4 rebounds) and junior center Arianna McCurry (6 points/4 rebounds) also contributed key minutes in the victory.
The Owls established dominance in the paint area by outscoring the Monarchs 38-28 down low and winning the rebounding battle, 43-33. Six of the seven Owls who registered minutes secured four or more rebounds.
Rice also shot their free throws at high clip, connecting on 13-of-15 (87 percent) attempts.
Old Dominion (5-5, 2-4) had three players score in double-figures, led by 19 points from forward Maggie Robinson.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls outscored ODU 22-17 in the opening period behind seven points from Mulkey and five points by Crosthwait. Rice shot 7-of-15 from the field and was a perfect 7-of-7 at the charity stripe.
Second Quarter
Rice managed to hold ODU to just 11 points in the quarter to take a 38-28 halftime lead. Mulkey (7 points) and Crosthwait (6 points) combined to score 13 of the Owls 16 points. ODU was limited to just 27 percent shooting.
Third Quarter
The Monarchs managed to trim their deficit to 49-46 after three quarters by outscoring the Owls 18-11 in the period. ODU took advantage of getting in the penalty early by scoring six points at the free throw line.
Fourth Quarter
The final quarter saw six different lead changes but it was Rice who had the finishing touch. ODU held a 56-55 advantage with 5:16 remaining only for the Owls to answer with a 12-3 run to close the game and secure the win. Following a pair of Mulkey makes from the field and a Schwartz layup, Smith put the game away with a clutch three-pointer with 1:49 remaining to go up 64-56 and the Owls never looked back.
Up Next
Rice welcomes UAB (7-5, 2-4) to Tudor Fieldhouse next weekend for a Friday-Saturday (Jan. 22-23) series with both games beginning at 2 p.m.
Rice (10-1, 6-0), who has been receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll for four consecutive weeks, reeled off their sixth consecutive win and improved to 41-2 against conference opponents dating back to 2018.
On Saturday, the shorthanded Owls were once again led by senior center Nancy Mulkey, who scored a season-high 25 points with a 10-of-16 performance from the field (5-of-5 at the line) and registered three blocks in 27 minutes.
Sophomore guard Katelyn Crosthwait almost gave the Owls a double-double with 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds while fellow sophomore guard Lauren Schwartz contributed 6 points and established career-highs in both rebounds (9) and assists (6).
Senior guards Sydne Wiggins (9 points/6 rebounds) and Jasmine Smith (8 points/4 assists/4 rebounds) and junior center Arianna McCurry (6 points/4 rebounds) also contributed key minutes in the victory.
The Owls established dominance in the paint area by outscoring the Monarchs 38-28 down low and winning the rebounding battle, 43-33. Six of the seven Owls who registered minutes secured four or more rebounds.
Rice also shot their free throws at high clip, connecting on 13-of-15 (87 percent) attempts.
Old Dominion (5-5, 2-4) had three players score in double-figures, led by 19 points from forward Maggie Robinson.
First Quarter
The Owls outscored ODU 22-17 in the opening period behind seven points from Mulkey and five points by Crosthwait. Rice shot 7-of-15 from the field and was a perfect 7-of-7 at the charity stripe.
Second Quarter
Rice managed to hold ODU to just 11 points in the quarter to take a 38-28 halftime lead. Mulkey (7 points) and Crosthwait (6 points) combined to score 13 of the Owls 16 points. ODU was limited to just 27 percent shooting.
Third Quarter
The Monarchs managed to trim their deficit to 49-46 after three quarters by outscoring the Owls 18-11 in the period. ODU took advantage of getting in the penalty early by scoring six points at the free throw line.
Fourth Quarter
The final quarter saw six different lead changes but it was Rice who had the finishing touch. ODU held a 56-55 advantage with 5:16 remaining only for the Owls to answer with a 12-3 run to close the game and secure the win. Following a pair of Mulkey makes from the field and a Schwartz layup, Smith put the game away with a clutch three-pointer with 1:49 remaining to go up 64-56 and the Owls never looked back.
Rice welcomes UAB (7-5, 2-4) to Tudor Fieldhouse next weekend for a Friday-Saturday (Jan. 22-23) series with both games beginning at 2 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
RICE
ODU
FG%
.446
.358
3FG%
.308
.167
FT%
.867
.667
RB
43
33
TO
21
11
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09