Thursday, March 11
Frisco, Texas
11 A.M.
Rice University
-173,122 CUSA
77
vs
60
FIU (Quarterfinals)
-1312,88 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
FIU
23
12
7
18
60
Rice
14
23
24
16
77
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Owls Take Down FIU to Advance to C-USA Semifinals
3/11/2021 2:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Box ScoreRice 77-FIU 60 (PDF Box Score)Rice vs. ODU StreamRice vs. ODU Live StatsC-USA Championship CentralPhoto Gallery
No. 1 seeded Rice will face No. 6 seeded Old Dominion on Friday
FRISCO, Texas – Behind a 28-point turnaround, the No. 1 seeded Rice Owls women's basketball team advanced to the Conference USA Championship semifinals with a convincing 77-60 victory over the FIU Panthers Thursday afternoon at the Ford Center.
After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, Rice (17-3) proceeded to outscore FIU by a 47-17 margin over the next 20 minutes. The Owls' offense went to another level as they set a new C-USA Championship record with 26 team assists. Rice also established a team C-USA Championship record with 10 made three-pointers.
Sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz put together a career performance by scoring a game-high 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting (3-of-7 from deep) with 15 of those points coming in the second half. Senior guard Sydne Wiggins added 15 points and a game-high six assists and was one of six Owls with at least three or more assists.
Senior guard Jasmine Smith chipped in nine points, five rebounds, and five assists while senior center Nancy Mulkey backed up her C-USA Defensive Player of the Year honors with five blocks to go along with nine rebounds and six points.
Rice outshot FIU from the field, 52 percent-36 percent and held a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint.
With the victory, Rice moves on to face the No. 6 seeded Old Dominion Monarchs, who knocked off No. 2 seeded Charlotte in double overtime, 90-89. The Owls faced the Monarchs twice in the regular season, winning both contests in Norfolk, Virginia in mid-January by scores of 77-66 and 67-59.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
FIU outscored the Owls 23-14 in the opening quarter after getting off to a hot shooting start, making 10-of-16 shots from the floor. Fujika Nimmo scored nine points in the quarter on three made three-pointers.
Second Quarter
The Owls flipped the game around with a nearly perfect quarter on the offensive end. Rice made 10-of-13 shots (77%) from the field in the quarter, including a 3-of-6 performance from deep. Schwartz scored eight points in the period, including a jumper with 3:06 remaining to give the Owls their first lead of the day to cap an 18-7 run.
Third Quarter
Rice's momentum oozed into the second half as they outscored FIU 24-7 in the quarter by making 10-of-15 shots from the field as Schwartz led the way with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Meanwhile on the defensive end, Rice held the Panthers to 2-of-14 shooting and forced five turnovers.
Fourth Quarter
FIU outscored Rice 18-16 in the quarter but the Owls' damage had already been done as their lead never dipped below 13 points.
Up Next
The Owls advance to the C-USA Semifinals to face the Old Dominion Monarchs at 5:30 p.m. The game will once again be streamed on Stadium.
After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, Rice (17-3) proceeded to outscore FIU by a 47-17 margin over the next 20 minutes. The Owls' offense went to another level as they set a new C-USA Championship record with 26 team assists. Rice also established a team C-USA Championship record with 10 made three-pointers.
Sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz put together a career performance by scoring a game-high 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting (3-of-7 from deep) with 15 of those points coming in the second half. Senior guard Sydne Wiggins added 15 points and a game-high six assists and was one of six Owls with at least three or more assists.
Senior guard Jasmine Smith chipped in nine points, five rebounds, and five assists while senior center Nancy Mulkey backed up her C-USA Defensive Player of the Year honors with five blocks to go along with nine rebounds and six points.
Rice outshot FIU from the field, 52 percent-36 percent and held a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint.
With the victory, Rice moves on to face the No. 6 seeded Old Dominion Monarchs, who knocked off No. 2 seeded Charlotte in double overtime, 90-89. The Owls faced the Monarchs twice in the regular season, winning both contests in Norfolk, Virginia in mid-January by scores of 77-66 and 67-59.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
FIU outscored the Owls 23-14 in the opening quarter after getting off to a hot shooting start, making 10-of-16 shots from the floor. Fujika Nimmo scored nine points in the quarter on three made three-pointers.
Second Quarter
The Owls flipped the game around with a nearly perfect quarter on the offensive end. Rice made 10-of-13 shots (77%) from the field in the quarter, including a 3-of-6 performance from deep. Schwartz scored eight points in the period, including a jumper with 3:06 remaining to give the Owls their first lead of the day to cap an 18-7 run.
Third Quarter
Rice's momentum oozed into the second half as they outscored FIU 24-7 in the quarter by making 10-of-15 shots from the field as Schwartz led the way with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Meanwhile on the defensive end, Rice held the Panthers to 2-of-14 shooting and forced five turnovers.
Fourth Quarter
FIU outscored Rice 18-16 in the quarter but the Owls' damage had already been done as their lead never dipped below 13 points.
The Owls advance to the C-USA Semifinals to face the Old Dominion Monarchs at 5:30 p.m. The game will once again be streamed on Stadium.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
FIU
Rice
FG%
.359
.524
3FG%
.316
.435
FT%
.533
.250
RB
36
36
TO
12
11
STL
0
6
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
12
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
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Wednesday, March 09