Friday, January 8
Houston, TX
1 P.M.
Rice University
vs
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UTEP
Preview | Owls Return Home for Series vs. UTEP
1/7/2021 9:38:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Friday Video Stream (CUSAtv)Friday Audio Saturday Video Stream (ESPN+)Saturday AudioLive StatsGame Notes
Both games set for 1 p.m.
(RV) Rice Owls (6-1, 2-0) vs. UTEP Miners (5-2, 2-0)
Game 8/9 • Friday/Saturday, Jan. 8/9, 2021 • 1/1 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Video Streams: CUSAtv (Friday)/ESPN+ (Saturday)
Audio Streams: Friday/Saturday
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @UTEPWBB
Owls Welcome Miners
Rice returns home to Tudor Fieldhouse this weekend for the first time since Dec. 16 when they host the UTEP Miners for a pair of C-USA contests. The Owls have started the season 6-1 and are 2-0 to begin Conference USA play for a fourth consecutive season. Rice is defeating teams this season by a margin of +17.8 points per contest. The Owls have beaten UTEP in five straight meetings.
Learning the Opponent
The Miners swept their C-USA opening series against Southern Miss last week, which put an end to a mini two-game losing streak. Sophomore point guard Katia Gallegos ranks first among all C-USA players in total steals (16) and is second in assists per game (5.0), while averaging a team-best 17.4 points per game. UTEP is scoring 75.0 points per game as a team while holding their opponents to 71.4 points.
Last Time Out
Nancy Mulkey scored a team-high 20 points and was one of three Owls to score in double-figures in a 69-57 victory last Saturday afternoon at UTSA. The Owls (6-1, 2-0) swept the weekend series from the Roadrunners (2-5, 0-2) by outshooting UTSA from the field, 49 percent-33 percent. Mulkey shot 8-of-12 from the field (4-of-5 at the charity stripe) on Saturday to finish the weekend a combined 16-of-23 from the floor. Rice senior guard Sydne Wiggins tied a season-high with 14 points while also collecting a season-high seven rebounds and sophomore Katelyn Crosthwait added 11 points.
Owls Ranked in Top-25 in NET Rankings
As of Thursday the Owls ranked No. 24 in the latest NET rankings, which debuted on Monday (appeared No. 25 then). The women's basketball NET rankings, which replaced the RPI, will be provided publicly on a daily basis on ncaa.com.
Receiving Votes
In this week's AP Top-25 Poll, the Owls are receiving nine votes after garnering three votes in each of the prior two rankings. Rice was last ranked in the AP-Top 25 when they finished the season No. 21 in 2019 after going 28-3.
Conference Dominance
The Owls have won 37 of their last 39 conference contests dating back to 2018. Last season Rice pushed their conference winning streak to 30 straight wins over C-USA opponents before it was snapped, the longest in league history.
Defending Home Court
The Owls have won 13 straight at Tudor Fieldhouse, tied for the 9th-longest active streak in the NCAA. Rice went 13-1 at home last season. Over the last three-plus seasons, Rice is 41-2 at home and have won 18 consecutive C-USA games at Tudor.
Game 8/9 • Friday/Saturday, Jan. 8/9, 2021 • 1/1 p.m. (CT)
Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse
Video Streams: CUSAtv (Friday)/ESPN+ (Saturday)
Audio Streams: Friday/Saturday
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB | @UTEPWBB
Owls Welcome Miners
Rice returns home to Tudor Fieldhouse this weekend for the first time since Dec. 16 when they host the UTEP Miners for a pair of C-USA contests. The Owls have started the season 6-1 and are 2-0 to begin Conference USA play for a fourth consecutive season. Rice is defeating teams this season by a margin of +17.8 points per contest. The Owls have beaten UTEP in five straight meetings.
Learning the Opponent
The Miners swept their C-USA opening series against Southern Miss last week, which put an end to a mini two-game losing streak. Sophomore point guard Katia Gallegos ranks first among all C-USA players in total steals (16) and is second in assists per game (5.0), while averaging a team-best 17.4 points per game. UTEP is scoring 75.0 points per game as a team while holding their opponents to 71.4 points.
Last Time Out
Nancy Mulkey scored a team-high 20 points and was one of three Owls to score in double-figures in a 69-57 victory last Saturday afternoon at UTSA. The Owls (6-1, 2-0) swept the weekend series from the Roadrunners (2-5, 0-2) by outshooting UTSA from the field, 49 percent-33 percent. Mulkey shot 8-of-12 from the field (4-of-5 at the charity stripe) on Saturday to finish the weekend a combined 16-of-23 from the floor. Rice senior guard Sydne Wiggins tied a season-high with 14 points while also collecting a season-high seven rebounds and sophomore Katelyn Crosthwait added 11 points.
Owls Ranked in Top-25 in NET Rankings
As of Thursday the Owls ranked No. 24 in the latest NET rankings, which debuted on Monday (appeared No. 25 then). The women's basketball NET rankings, which replaced the RPI, will be provided publicly on a daily basis on ncaa.com.
Receiving Votes
In this week's AP Top-25 Poll, the Owls are receiving nine votes after garnering three votes in each of the prior two rankings. Rice was last ranked in the AP-Top 25 when they finished the season No. 21 in 2019 after going 28-3.
Conference Dominance
The Owls have won 37 of their last 39 conference contests dating back to 2018. Last season Rice pushed their conference winning streak to 30 straight wins over C-USA opponents before it was snapped, the longest in league history.
Defending Home Court
The Owls have won 13 straight at Tudor Fieldhouse, tied for the 9th-longest active streak in the NCAA. Rice went 13-1 at home last season. Over the last three-plus seasons, Rice is 41-2 at home and have won 18 consecutive C-USA games at Tudor.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09