Thursday, January 27
Houston, TX
7:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-68,15 CUSA
72
vs
64
Louisiana Tech
-108,25 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana Tech
16
12
18
18
64
Rice
16
24
18
14
72
Owls Use Balanced Scoring Attack in Win Over LA Tech
1/27/2022 10:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
First C-USA victory of the season for Rice
HOUSTON – Four Owls scored in double-figures led by a game-high 27 points from sophomore forward Ashlee Austin as the Rice women's basketball team secured their first Conference USA win of the season, snapping a five-game losing streak with a 72-64 victory over Louisiana Tech Thursday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Rice (6-8, 1-5) bounced back from a crushing quadruple overtime loss last Saturday at Charlotte with their fifth home victory of the season, defeating a Louisiana Tech (10-8, 2-5) team while establishing season-highs in C-USA play in assists (16) and blocks (5).
Austin, from Johns Creek, Ga., recorded her fourth game of the season with 20 or more points by making 8-of-15 shots from the field and 10-of-12 at the free throw line. In addition, Austin established a career-high with four blocks to go along with five rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
Joining Austin in double-figures was redshirt freshman Maya Bokunewicz (14 points), who drained 4-of-7 three-point attempts in 38 minutes. Junior guard Haylee Swayze (11 points) and freshman forward Malia Fisher (10 points) also contributed double-digit scoring for the Owls.
Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson flirted with a triple double, stuffing the box score with seven points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Sophomore forward India Bellamy also made a contribution with nine rebounds and a team-high four steals.
Rice held advantages over the Lady Techsters in field goal percentage (42%-40%), three-point percentage (36%-21%), free throw percentage (73%-69%), points off turnovers (17-10), rebounds (40-30), second chance points (11-6) and assists (16-13). In total, the Owls led for 37 of the 40 minutes.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm just so happy for this team. We've been through a lot – adversity with injuries, COVID, and low numbers, and a four overtime game this past weekend. We could have easily come in thinking woe is me and not performed like we did, but I'm so proud of their effort and coming in tonight and competing like they did and getting rewarded for their efforts."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The two teams were deadlocked 16-16 after the opening 10 minutes thanks to hot-shooting from Bokunewicz, who scored nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Austin chipped in five points and Rice was in good position despite shooting just 29 percent from the field.
Second Quarter
Rice doubled up the Lady Techsters with a 24-12 advantage in the period. Austin added eight more points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 at the line while Swayze knocked down a pair of three-pointers to compliment one more long ball from Bokunewicz. The Owls shot a sensational 69 percent from the field in the quarter and posted eight assists on their nine made field goals, taking a 40-28 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
The two teams played to an 18-18 knot in the 10 minutes out of the break with Austin leading the way with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting. Rice was able to extend their lead to 15 points on three separate occasions before settling for a 58-46 lead going to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Lady Techsters managed to trim the Rice lead down to 60-56 with 5:10 remaining, however, the Owls outscored Tech 12-8 the rest of the way. Austin scored seven of Rice's final 12 points as the Owls clinched the victory in front of the home crowd.
UP NEXT
The Owls will look to make it consecutive victories on Saturday when they host Southern Miss (11-6, 3-3) at 2 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse. That contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
Rice (6-8, 1-5) bounced back from a crushing quadruple overtime loss last Saturday at Charlotte with their fifth home victory of the season, defeating a Louisiana Tech (10-8, 2-5) team while establishing season-highs in C-USA play in assists (16) and blocks (5).
Austin, from Johns Creek, Ga., recorded her fourth game of the season with 20 or more points by making 8-of-15 shots from the field and 10-of-12 at the free throw line. In addition, Austin established a career-high with four blocks to go along with five rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
Joining Austin in double-figures was redshirt freshman Maya Bokunewicz (14 points), who drained 4-of-7 three-point attempts in 38 minutes. Junior guard Haylee Swayze (11 points) and freshman forward Malia Fisher (10 points) also contributed double-digit scoring for the Owls.
Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson flirted with a triple double, stuffing the box score with seven points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Sophomore forward India Bellamy also made a contribution with nine rebounds and a team-high four steals.
Rice held advantages over the Lady Techsters in field goal percentage (42%-40%), three-point percentage (36%-21%), free throw percentage (73%-69%), points off turnovers (17-10), rebounds (40-30), second chance points (11-6) and assists (16-13). In total, the Owls led for 37 of the 40 minutes.
"I'm just so happy for this team. We've been through a lot – adversity with injuries, COVID, and low numbers, and a four overtime game this past weekend. We could have easily come in thinking woe is me and not performed like we did, but I'm so proud of their effort and coming in tonight and competing like they did and getting rewarded for their efforts."
First Quarter
The two teams were deadlocked 16-16 after the opening 10 minutes thanks to hot-shooting from Bokunewicz, who scored nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Austin chipped in five points and Rice was in good position despite shooting just 29 percent from the field.
Second Quarter
Rice doubled up the Lady Techsters with a 24-12 advantage in the period. Austin added eight more points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 at the line while Swayze knocked down a pair of three-pointers to compliment one more long ball from Bokunewicz. The Owls shot a sensational 69 percent from the field in the quarter and posted eight assists on their nine made field goals, taking a 40-28 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
The two teams played to an 18-18 knot in the 10 minutes out of the break with Austin leading the way with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting. Rice was able to extend their lead to 15 points on three separate occasions before settling for a 58-46 lead going to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Lady Techsters managed to trim the Rice lead down to 60-56 with 5:10 remaining, however, the Owls outscored Tech 12-8 the rest of the way. Austin scored seven of Rice's final 12 points as the Owls clinched the victory in front of the home crowd.
The Owls will look to make it consecutive victories on Saturday when they host Southern Miss (11-6, 3-3) at 2 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse. That contest will be streamed on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
LATech
Rice
FG%
.403
.420
3FG%
.214
.364
FT%
.688
.733
RB
30
40
TO
14
18
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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