Friday, March 19
Fort Worth, Texas
11 A.M. CT
Rice University
-194,122 CUSA
48
vs
36
Arizona State (1st Round)
11-11,6-9Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Arizona St.
4
8
19
5
36
Rice
5
10
15
18
48
Owls Advance to Second Round of WNIT
3/19/2021 2:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Defeat Arizona State, 48-36
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Rice Owls women's basketball team picked up their second win of the season over a Power Five opponent with a convincing 48-36 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils Friday afternoon in the opening round of the WNIT.
Rice's 36 points allowed were the fewest by the Owls since giving up just 35 points against Florida Atlantic on Feb. 16, 2019 and were the second-fewest Arizona State had scored all season.
The Owls (19-4, 12-2) used a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from the Sun Devils (11-11, 6-9), winning the period 18-5. Rice allowed single-digit points in three of the four quarters and held the Sun Devil to 25% shooting for the game. Offensively the Owls were led in scoring by senior center Nancy Mulkey (16 points) and sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz (16 points). The duo combined to make 13-of-19 shots from the floor and scored 20 of the team's 33 second half points.
Rice held the advantage in points in the paint (28-16) and won the battle of the boards (36-32).
The Owls will next face the winner of Missouri/Fresno State on Saturday at 5 p.m. on FloHoops.com.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
A long Schwartz made jumper near the end of the opening quarter gave the Owls a 5-4 lead after the first 10 minutes of action. Both teams were locked in defensively from the jump, as there were just the nine points scored and 10 turnovers.
Second Quarter
The Owls won the second quarter, 10-8, with Schwartz adding six more points to give the Owls a 15-12 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
The scoring picked up for both team after the break, with Arizona St. winning the period 19-15. Mulkey gave the Owls a lift when the Sun Devils had taken the lead with eight consecutive points at one juncture.
Fourth Quarter
The Owls played a nearly flawless final 10 minutes, outscoring the Sun Devils 18-5 to win going away. Rice went on an 18-2 run and nearly held Arizona St. scoreless over the final 5:55. Schwartz delivered the knockout punch with a made three-pointer at the 1:44 mark to give the Owls a 46-33 advantage.
Rice's 36 points allowed were the fewest by the Owls since giving up just 35 points against Florida Atlantic on Feb. 16, 2019 and were the second-fewest Arizona State had scored all season.
The Owls (19-4, 12-2) used a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from the Sun Devils (11-11, 6-9), winning the period 18-5. Rice allowed single-digit points in three of the four quarters and held the Sun Devil to 25% shooting for the game. Offensively the Owls were led in scoring by senior center Nancy Mulkey (16 points) and sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz (16 points). The duo combined to make 13-of-19 shots from the floor and scored 20 of the team's 33 second half points.
Rice held the advantage in points in the paint (28-16) and won the battle of the boards (36-32).
The Owls will next face the winner of Missouri/Fresno State on Saturday at 5 p.m. on FloHoops.com.
First Quarter
A long Schwartz made jumper near the end of the opening quarter gave the Owls a 5-4 lead after the first 10 minutes of action. Both teams were locked in defensively from the jump, as there were just the nine points scored and 10 turnovers.
Second Quarter
The Owls won the second quarter, 10-8, with Schwartz adding six more points to give the Owls a 15-12 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
The scoring picked up for both team after the break, with Arizona St. winning the period 19-15. Mulkey gave the Owls a lift when the Sun Devils had taken the lead with eight consecutive points at one juncture.
Fourth Quarter
The Owls played a nearly flawless final 10 minutes, outscoring the Sun Devils 18-5 to win going away. Rice went on an 18-2 run and nearly held Arizona St. scoreless over the final 5:55. Schwartz delivered the knockout punch with a made three-pointer at the 1:44 mark to give the Owls a 46-33 advantage.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
ASU
RICE
FG%
.246
.435
3FG%
.136
.133
FT%
1.000
.750
RB
32
36
TO
17
20
STL
11
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
C
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