Friday, March 12
Frisco, Texas
5:30 P.M.
Rice University
-183,122 CUSA
62
vs
60
Old Dominion (Semifinals)
-1311,79 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Old Dominion
12
8
15
25
60
Rice
21
10
16
15
62
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
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Owls Moving On to C-USA Title Game
3/12/2021 9:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Face winner of Middle Tennessee/UTEP Saturday at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
FRISCO, Texas – Nancy Mulkey was one of three players in double-figures with a team-best 23 points to help lead the Rice Owls to a 62-60 victory over the Old Dominion Monarchs Friday evening in the Conference USA Championship semifinals.
Rice (18-3) clinched a berth in the C-USA Championship title game for the second time in the last three years and the fourth time in program history. They will next face the winner of No. 1 seeded Middle Tennessee/No. 2 UTEP on Saturday at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Mulkey made 10-of-20 shots from the field while also grabbing eight rebounds and contributing four blocks. Mulkey scored 16 of her 20 points in the all-important second half, making 7-of-11 shots from the floor. The three-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Year also surpassed 300 career collegiate blocks.
A night after scoring a career-high in points, sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz had another big performance with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting while senior guard Sydne Wiggins contributed 10 points and a team-high five assists. Sophomore guard Katelyn Crosthwait gave the Owls a big lift on the boards, pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds.
Rice outshot ODU (13-11) from the field by a margin of 45 percent-33 percent and dished out 17 assists as a team with just 10 turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls shot 59 percent from the field as a team as they outscored ODU, 21-12. Mulkey and Schwartz scored six points apiece while Crosthwait recorded five rebounds. Rice made their first four shots from the field to start the game, all by different players. The Owls recorded an assist on eight of their 10 made field goals.
Second Quarter
Rice limited the Monarchs to 3-of-19 shooting (16%) in the period took a 31-20 halftime lead after winning the quarter, 10-8. Wiggins scored five points in the quarter and knocked down the Owls second three-pointer of the game, part of a 7-0 Rice run to open the period.
Third Quarter
Mulkey came out on fire to start the half, scoring eight points in the quarter on 4-of-6 shooting along with a team-best four rebounds. Schwartz added six points on a pair of three-point makes and Rice outscored the Monarchs 16-15 to take a 47-35 lead into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
Wiggins hit a clutch three-pointer with 4:53 remaining that gave the Owls a 57-46 lead. The Monarchs came storming back though, cutting the deficit down to 57-56 after an Ajah Wayne putback with 47 seconds remaining.
After a Rice turnover, ODU had two opportunities to take the lead at the free throw line but missed all four attempts. The Owls capitalized on the other end with Haylee Swayze calmly sinking a pair to give Rice a 59-56 lead with 22 seconds left. Wayne proceeded to split a pair at the line on the other end and Mulkey followed back with a pair of makes at the charity stripe to make it a 61-57 lead with 14 seconds left.
Following an ODU made three-pointer, Crosthwait made 1-of-2 at the free throw line with one second remaining and the Monarchs' last attempt from beyond midcourt fell way short.
Up Next
The Owls move on to the C-USA Championship, which will take place tomorrow, Mar. 13 at 5 p.m. on CBS Network versus the winner of Middle Tennessee/UTEP.
Rice (18-3) clinched a berth in the C-USA Championship title game for the second time in the last three years and the fourth time in program history. They will next face the winner of No. 1 seeded Middle Tennessee/No. 2 UTEP on Saturday at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Mulkey made 10-of-20 shots from the field while also grabbing eight rebounds and contributing four blocks. Mulkey scored 16 of her 20 points in the all-important second half, making 7-of-11 shots from the floor. The three-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Year also surpassed 300 career collegiate blocks.
A night after scoring a career-high in points, sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz had another big performance with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting while senior guard Sydne Wiggins contributed 10 points and a team-high five assists. Sophomore guard Katelyn Crosthwait gave the Owls a big lift on the boards, pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds.
Rice outshot ODU (13-11) from the field by a margin of 45 percent-33 percent and dished out 17 assists as a team with just 10 turnovers.
First Quarter
The Owls shot 59 percent from the field as a team as they outscored ODU, 21-12. Mulkey and Schwartz scored six points apiece while Crosthwait recorded five rebounds. Rice made their first four shots from the field to start the game, all by different players. The Owls recorded an assist on eight of their 10 made field goals.
Second Quarter
Rice limited the Monarchs to 3-of-19 shooting (16%) in the period took a 31-20 halftime lead after winning the quarter, 10-8. Wiggins scored five points in the quarter and knocked down the Owls second three-pointer of the game, part of a 7-0 Rice run to open the period.
Third Quarter
Mulkey came out on fire to start the half, scoring eight points in the quarter on 4-of-6 shooting along with a team-best four rebounds. Schwartz added six points on a pair of three-point makes and Rice outscored the Monarchs 16-15 to take a 47-35 lead into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
Wiggins hit a clutch three-pointer with 4:53 remaining that gave the Owls a 57-46 lead. The Monarchs came storming back though, cutting the deficit down to 57-56 after an Ajah Wayne putback with 47 seconds remaining.
After a Rice turnover, ODU had two opportunities to take the lead at the free throw line but missed all four attempts. The Owls capitalized on the other end with Haylee Swayze calmly sinking a pair to give Rice a 59-56 lead with 22 seconds left. Wayne proceeded to split a pair at the line on the other end and Mulkey followed back with a pair of makes at the charity stripe to make it a 61-57 lead with 14 seconds left.
Following an ODU made three-pointer, Crosthwait made 1-of-2 at the free throw line with one second remaining and the Monarchs' last attempt from beyond midcourt fell way short.
The Owls move on to the C-USA Championship, which will take place tomorrow, Mar. 13 at 5 p.m. on CBS Network versus the winner of Middle Tennessee/UTEP.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
ODU
Rice
FG%
.333
.455
3FG%
.267
.455
FT%
.462
.500
RB
46
40
TO
4
10
STL
6
2
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09