Friday, January 7
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-54,01 CUSA
63
at
87
Middle Tennessee
-103,21 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
25
10
19
9
63
Middle Tenn.
17
29
22
19
87
Photo by: Matt Posey/MTSU Athletics
Lady Raiders Too Much for Owls in C-USA Opener
1/7/2022 5:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bokunewicz scores season-high 20 points in 87-63 loss
MURFREESBORO, TN – After a 23-day layoff that included postponements, cancelations, and the Christmas break, the Rice Owls women's basketball team made their long-awaited return to the hardwood Friday afternoon, falling 87-63 on the road to the reigning C-USA champion Middle Tennessee Lady Raiders in the team's Conference USA opener.
The Owls (5-4, 0-1) were back in action for the first time since defeating Sam Houston back on Dec. 16 in Huntsville, Texas. Rice led by as many as 11 points in the opening quarter but Middle Tennessee (10-3, 2-1) outscored the Owls 70-38 over the final three quarters.
Rice redshirt freshman Maya Bokunewicz had a career outing by scoring a season-high 20 points in 34 minutes off the bench on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point territory. Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson approached a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds to go along with four assists for the Owls.
The Lady Raiders placed five players in double-figure scoring, led by 23 points from redshirt junior forward Kseniya Malashka. The transfer from VCU made 11-of-16 shots from the field and also collected four blocks.
Middle Tennessee outshot Rice from the field, 51 percent-37 percent, but Rice totaled more rebounds (41-34) and assists (12-10). The Lady Raiders held a big advantage in both points in the paint (52-18) and points off turnovers (25-5).
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"It's been a really rough couple of weeks for us. From tests popping positive, to canceling games, to extending an already long Christmas break even longer, practicing with as few as six players for a several days, and weather delays – trying to get back into game shape after 10 days of quarantine has been extremely challenging but I'm not into making excuses. That was the hand we were dealt and we needed to respond better. Middle Tennessee was the much better team today and we didn't step up to the opportunity. I'm disappointed in our showing today but do believe there are plenty of things we need to and will learn from these challenges."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls started the game on fire and turned in one of their better quarters of the season, outscoring the Lady Raiders 25-17 on 53 percent shooting from the field. Six different Owls registered points in the period, led by six points from sophomore forward Ashlee Austin. Rice raced out to a 13-2 advantage in the game's first four minutes, getting three-pointers from Katelyn Crosthwait, Haylee Swayze, and Austin. Rice outrebounded MTSU by a 16-5 margin, including six offensive boards that resulted in nine second chance points. The Owls ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, capped off by the team's fifth made three-pointer of the quarter from India Bellamy in the closing seconds.
Second Quarter
MTSU turned the game around by outscoring the Owls 29-10 to take a 46-35 halftime lead. Malashika led all players with 11 points in the quarter on 5-of-8 shooting as the Lady Raiders shot 63 percent from the field for the quarter. MTSU scored 18 of their 29 points in the paint while limiting Rice to just three made field goals in the quarter, all of which came from Bokunewicz.
Third Quarter
After falling behind 17 points midway through the quarter, Rice pulled to within 64-54 under the two minute mark on a made field goal from Bokunewicz to give her 20 points. However, MTSU scored the final four points of the period and won the quarter 22-19.
Fourth Quarter
The Lady Raiders never allowed the Owls to get closer than the 14-point deficit they faced to start the quarter and won the final period, 19-9.
UP NEXT
The Owls finally return home to Tudor Fieldhouse next week when they host WKU on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. on CUSAtv, followed by a Saturday matinee against Marshall on Jan. 15 at 2 p.m., also on CUSAtv.
The Owls (5-4, 0-1) were back in action for the first time since defeating Sam Houston back on Dec. 16 in Huntsville, Texas. Rice led by as many as 11 points in the opening quarter but Middle Tennessee (10-3, 2-1) outscored the Owls 70-38 over the final three quarters.
Rice redshirt freshman Maya Bokunewicz had a career outing by scoring a season-high 20 points in 34 minutes off the bench on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point territory. Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson approached a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds to go along with four assists for the Owls.
The Lady Raiders placed five players in double-figure scoring, led by 23 points from redshirt junior forward Kseniya Malashka. The transfer from VCU made 11-of-16 shots from the field and also collected four blocks.
Middle Tennessee outshot Rice from the field, 51 percent-37 percent, but Rice totaled more rebounds (41-34) and assists (12-10). The Lady Raiders held a big advantage in both points in the paint (52-18) and points off turnovers (25-5).
"It's been a really rough couple of weeks for us. From tests popping positive, to canceling games, to extending an already long Christmas break even longer, practicing with as few as six players for a several days, and weather delays – trying to get back into game shape after 10 days of quarantine has been extremely challenging but I'm not into making excuses. That was the hand we were dealt and we needed to respond better. Middle Tennessee was the much better team today and we didn't step up to the opportunity. I'm disappointed in our showing today but do believe there are plenty of things we need to and will learn from these challenges."
First Quarter
The Owls started the game on fire and turned in one of their better quarters of the season, outscoring the Lady Raiders 25-17 on 53 percent shooting from the field. Six different Owls registered points in the period, led by six points from sophomore forward Ashlee Austin. Rice raced out to a 13-2 advantage in the game's first four minutes, getting three-pointers from Katelyn Crosthwait, Haylee Swayze, and Austin. Rice outrebounded MTSU by a 16-5 margin, including six offensive boards that resulted in nine second chance points. The Owls ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, capped off by the team's fifth made three-pointer of the quarter from India Bellamy in the closing seconds.
Second Quarter
MTSU turned the game around by outscoring the Owls 29-10 to take a 46-35 halftime lead. Malashika led all players with 11 points in the quarter on 5-of-8 shooting as the Lady Raiders shot 63 percent from the field for the quarter. MTSU scored 18 of their 29 points in the paint while limiting Rice to just three made field goals in the quarter, all of which came from Bokunewicz.
Third Quarter
After falling behind 17 points midway through the quarter, Rice pulled to within 64-54 under the two minute mark on a made field goal from Bokunewicz to give her 20 points. However, MTSU scored the final four points of the period and won the quarter 22-19.
Fourth Quarter
The Lady Raiders never allowed the Owls to get closer than the 14-point deficit they faced to start the quarter and won the final period, 19-9.
The Owls finally return home to Tudor Fieldhouse next week when they host WKU on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. on CUSAtv, followed by a Saturday matinee against Marshall on Jan. 15 at 2 p.m., also on CUSAtv.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
MTSU
FG%
.365
.508
3FG%
.385
.368
FT%
.583
.778
RB
41
34
TO
20
7
STL
3
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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