Friday, March 19
Fort Worth, Texas
11 A.M. CT
Rice University
vs
Arizona State (1st Round)
Photo by: Roger Steinman Photos
Preview | Owls Face Arizona St. in WNIT
3/17/2021 11:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Tip-off set for 11 a.m. on Friday
(RV) Rice Owls (18-4, 12-2) vs. Arizona St. Sun Devils (11-10, 6-9)
Game 23 • Friday, Mar. 19, 2021 • 11 a.m. (CT)
Fort Worth, Texas • Wilerson-Greines Activity Center
Attendance: Closed to the General Public
Video Stream: FloHoops (Subscription-$)
Listen: RiceOwls.com
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB
Owls Back in the Postseason
For the fourth time in the last five years, the Rice Owls women's basketball team is back in the postseason under head coach Tina Langley. Rice will be appearing in the WNIT for the ninth time in school history and first since 2018. The Owls are 5-8 all-time in the WNIT, including a 1-1 record in 2018 when they defeated Texas State (71-60) before falling at New Mexico (93-73). Rice's first round meeting with Arizona State will be the first-ever between the two programs.
About Arizona State
The Sun Devils fell to USC in the opening round of the Pac-12 Tournament, 71-65. Arizona St. ranks 42nd in the NCAA in scoring defense, surrendering just 58.3 points per game. On the flip side, the Sun Devils are 308th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 55.3 points per contest. Taya Hanson leads the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and ranks 37th in the NCAA in made three-pointers (56).
Golden Era for Owls
Since Tina Langley's arrival to Rice, the Owls have done nothing but win. Rice's all-time leader in winning percentage (.664), Langley has led the Owls to a combined record of 113-38 (.748) over the last 151 games and are coming off a third straight Conference USA title. Heading into this season the Owls had reached the 20-win plateau in four consecutive seasons (22, 23, 28, 21), the greatest four-year stretch in program history. The Owls have played in the postseason in three of the last four seasons, which includes the NCAA Tournament (2019), WNIT (2018), and WBI (champions in 2017).
Last Time Out
A late fourth quarter run came up just short for the Rice Owls women's basketball team in a 68-65 setback to fellow No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee Saturday evening in the Conference USA Championship. Rice was led by senior center Nancy Mulkey, who along with sophomore forward Lauren Schwartz were named afterwards to the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Mulkey scored a team-high 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. The three-time first-teamer scored 17 points in the second half on 8-of-9 shooting, including 13 points in the final period. Junior guard Jasmine Smith also recorded a double-double, the first of her career, with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Rice outscored Middle Tennessee (17-7) in points the paint, 44-20, but the Lady Raiders were able to connect on 12 made three-pointers on 38 attempts.
Mulkey Garners Conference Honors
For a record-tying third consecutive season, Rice senior center Nancy Mulkey was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday. Mulkey joined Janell Burse (Tulane, 1999-01) and Sandora Irvin (TCU, 2003-05) as the only players in C-USA history to be named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. In addition to DPOY honors, Mulkey was also named C-USA First Team and to the All-Defensive Team for a third straight year. This season alone Mulkey has already been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, the Lisa Leslie Award, and the Senior CLASS Award. During the Mulkey era (2019-21) the Owls have gone 61-14.
All About Efficiency
The Owls are one of only four teams in the NCAA that rank Top-10 in the country in both offensive field goal percentage (8th-47.8) and defensive field goal percentage (10th-34.6). The other three teams are Baylor (5th/1st), Stephen F. Austin (4th/7th) and UConn (2nd/5th).
Let It Fly
Entering play this weekend the Owls ranked 8th in the NCAA in three-point percentage (38.2%). Four different Owls are shooting 35% or better from beyond the arc, led by junior reserve Haylee Swayze (43.2).
Game 23 • Friday, Mar. 19, 2021 • 11 a.m. (CT)
Fort Worth, Texas • Wilerson-Greines Activity Center
Attendance: Closed to the General Public
Video Stream: FloHoops (Subscription-$)
Listen: RiceOwls.com
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB
Owls Back in the Postseason
For the fourth time in the last five years, the Rice Owls women's basketball team is back in the postseason under head coach Tina Langley. Rice will be appearing in the WNIT for the ninth time in school history and first since 2018. The Owls are 5-8 all-time in the WNIT, including a 1-1 record in 2018 when they defeated Texas State (71-60) before falling at New Mexico (93-73). Rice's first round meeting with Arizona State will be the first-ever between the two programs.
About Arizona State
The Sun Devils fell to USC in the opening round of the Pac-12 Tournament, 71-65. Arizona St. ranks 42nd in the NCAA in scoring defense, surrendering just 58.3 points per game. On the flip side, the Sun Devils are 308th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 55.3 points per contest. Taya Hanson leads the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and ranks 37th in the NCAA in made three-pointers (56).
Golden Era for Owls
Since Tina Langley's arrival to Rice, the Owls have done nothing but win. Rice's all-time leader in winning percentage (.664), Langley has led the Owls to a combined record of 113-38 (.748) over the last 151 games and are coming off a third straight Conference USA title. Heading into this season the Owls had reached the 20-win plateau in four consecutive seasons (22, 23, 28, 21), the greatest four-year stretch in program history. The Owls have played in the postseason in three of the last four seasons, which includes the NCAA Tournament (2019), WNIT (2018), and WBI (champions in 2017).
Last Time Out
A late fourth quarter run came up just short for the Rice Owls women's basketball team in a 68-65 setback to fellow No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee Saturday evening in the Conference USA Championship. Rice was led by senior center Nancy Mulkey, who along with sophomore forward Lauren Schwartz were named afterwards to the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Mulkey scored a team-high 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. The three-time first-teamer scored 17 points in the second half on 8-of-9 shooting, including 13 points in the final period. Junior guard Jasmine Smith also recorded a double-double, the first of her career, with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Rice outscored Middle Tennessee (17-7) in points the paint, 44-20, but the Lady Raiders were able to connect on 12 made three-pointers on 38 attempts.
Mulkey Garners Conference Honors
For a record-tying third consecutive season, Rice senior center Nancy Mulkey was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday. Mulkey joined Janell Burse (Tulane, 1999-01) and Sandora Irvin (TCU, 2003-05) as the only players in C-USA history to be named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive years. In addition to DPOY honors, Mulkey was also named C-USA First Team and to the All-Defensive Team for a third straight year. This season alone Mulkey has already been named a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, the Lisa Leslie Award, and the Senior CLASS Award. During the Mulkey era (2019-21) the Owls have gone 61-14.
All About Efficiency
The Owls are one of only four teams in the NCAA that rank Top-10 in the country in both offensive field goal percentage (8th-47.8) and defensive field goal percentage (10th-34.6). The other three teams are Baylor (5th/1st), Stephen F. Austin (4th/7th) and UConn (2nd/5th).
Let It Fly
Entering play this weekend the Owls ranked 8th in the NCAA in three-point percentage (38.2%). Four different Owls are shooting 35% or better from beyond the arc, led by junior reserve Haylee Swayze (43.2).
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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