Thursday, December 16
Huntsville, TX
6:30 P.M. CT
Rice University
-53,00 CUSA
74
at
64
Sam Houston
4-6,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
13
9
32
20
74
Sam Houston
12
9
24
19
64
Photo by: DJ Shafer
Owls Win Second Straight, Defeat Bearkats 74-64
12/16/2021 10:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Austin scores a career-high 30 points
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Behind a career-high 30 points from sophomore forward Ashlee Austin, the Rice Owls women's basketball team secured their second straight victory with their first road win of the season, defeating the Sam Houston Bearkats 74-64 Thursday evening at Bernard J. Johnson Coliseum.
The Owls (5-3) outscored the Bearkats (4-6) by a margin of 52-33 in the second half and did much of their damage at the free throw line, making a season-high 25 free throws on 30 attempts (83 percent) while also establishing a season-high in blocked shots with nine.
Austin's 30-point performance was the first by an Owl since Erica Ogwumike scored 33 points in a win over North Texas on Feb. 20, 2020. The Johns Creek, Ga. native made 11-of-17 shots from the field and 8-of-10 at the free throw line to go along with eight rebounds in 30 minutes. Austin scored 20 of those points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
The Owls also got double-figure scoring from junior guard Haylee Swayze, who made a pair of three-pointers in 32 minutes off the bench. Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson added 10 points for her third consecutive game in double-figures, going 8-of-8 at the free throw line to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.
Malia Fisher, the reigning C-USA Freshman of the Week, added eight points, eight rebounds, five blocks, and four assists while playing all 40 minutes.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"It wasn't exactly pretty for 40 minutes but I feel like we weren't as tough as we needed to be in the first half but I feel like we turned the page on that and we were the tough team that I know we can be in the second half. I thought we executed much better in the third and fourth quarter. We've got to lock in on defense but it was a physical basketball game with a lot of fouls called both ways but I thought we stepped up to the free throw line for the first time this year and had a lot of confidence when we were shooting our free throws. That was a big part of the outcome as well."
Postgame Reaction – Ashlee Austin
"Tonight I was really working on my mid-range game, knocking down shots and when they started stepping up I was able to drive. Things were kind of just going my way. Of course my teammates were feeding me and getting me the ball. Under this system with Coach Edmonds it's really allowed me to open up my game and I've slowed down to get shots that I really want."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening period, combining to shoot 11-of-38 from the field while committing 12 turnovers. Austin scored six points in the quarter to lead all players, including a jumper in the final minute to give the Owls a 13-12 lead after 10 minutes of action.
Second Quarter
The two teams continued their defensive battle as they scored just nine points apiece with Rice taking a 22-21 lead into halftime. Both teams combined for 14 turnovers and made just three field goals apiece.
Third Quarter
Rice came out the aggressors and got into the penalty with more than seven minutes remaining in the quarter and proceeded to fully take advantage, making 15-of-18 free throw attempts in a quarter in which they scored a season-high 32 points. Austin scored nine points in the quarter while sophomore forward India Bellamy came off the bench to give the Owls a boost with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field. The Bearkats' Courtney Cleveland scored 16 of her 24 points in the period, making 4-of-7 from the field and 8-of-9 at the charity stripe.
Fourth Quarter
Austin helped put the game away with 11 big fourth quarter points, converting a pair of And-1 opportunities, including one at the 2:31 mark to give her 30 points and the Owls a insurmountable 69-57 lead.
UP NEXT
The Owls play their final non-conference road game of the regular season on Sunday when they travel to College Station to face the No. 23 ranked Texas A&M Aggies at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Owls (5-3) outscored the Bearkats (4-6) by a margin of 52-33 in the second half and did much of their damage at the free throw line, making a season-high 25 free throws on 30 attempts (83 percent) while also establishing a season-high in blocked shots with nine.
Austin's 30-point performance was the first by an Owl since Erica Ogwumike scored 33 points in a win over North Texas on Feb. 20, 2020. The Johns Creek, Ga. native made 11-of-17 shots from the field and 8-of-10 at the free throw line to go along with eight rebounds in 30 minutes. Austin scored 20 of those points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
The Owls also got double-figure scoring from junior guard Haylee Swayze, who made a pair of three-pointers in 32 minutes off the bench. Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson added 10 points for her third consecutive game in double-figures, going 8-of-8 at the free throw line to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.
Malia Fisher, the reigning C-USA Freshman of the Week, added eight points, eight rebounds, five blocks, and four assists while playing all 40 minutes.
"It wasn't exactly pretty for 40 minutes but I feel like we weren't as tough as we needed to be in the first half but I feel like we turned the page on that and we were the tough team that I know we can be in the second half. I thought we executed much better in the third and fourth quarter. We've got to lock in on defense but it was a physical basketball game with a lot of fouls called both ways but I thought we stepped up to the free throw line for the first time this year and had a lot of confidence when we were shooting our free throws. That was a big part of the outcome as well."
Postgame Reaction – Ashlee Austin
"Tonight I was really working on my mid-range game, knocking down shots and when they started stepping up I was able to drive. Things were kind of just going my way. Of course my teammates were feeding me and getting me the ball. Under this system with Coach Edmonds it's really allowed me to open up my game and I've slowed down to get shots that I really want."
First Quarter
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening period, combining to shoot 11-of-38 from the field while committing 12 turnovers. Austin scored six points in the quarter to lead all players, including a jumper in the final minute to give the Owls a 13-12 lead after 10 minutes of action.
Second Quarter
The two teams continued their defensive battle as they scored just nine points apiece with Rice taking a 22-21 lead into halftime. Both teams combined for 14 turnovers and made just three field goals apiece.
Third Quarter
Rice came out the aggressors and got into the penalty with more than seven minutes remaining in the quarter and proceeded to fully take advantage, making 15-of-18 free throw attempts in a quarter in which they scored a season-high 32 points. Austin scored nine points in the quarter while sophomore forward India Bellamy came off the bench to give the Owls a boost with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field. The Bearkats' Courtney Cleveland scored 16 of her 24 points in the period, making 4-of-7 from the field and 8-of-9 at the charity stripe.
Fourth Quarter
Austin helped put the game away with 11 big fourth quarter points, converting a pair of And-1 opportunities, including one at the 2:31 mark to give her 30 points and the Owls a insurmountable 69-57 lead.
The Owls play their final non-conference road game of the regular season on Sunday when they travel to College Station to face the No. 23 ranked Texas A&M Aggies at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
SHSU
FG%
.397
.356
3FG%
.188
.182
FT%
.833
.741
RB
40
41
TO
16
21
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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