Sunday, November 13
Houston, TX
2:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-20,00 CUSA
85
vs
69
Abilene Christian
1-1,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Abilene Christian
18
24
11
16
69
Rice
24
11
24
26
85
Owls Respond to Challenge, Down ACU 85-69
11/13/2022 5:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Outscore Wildcats 50-27 in second half
HOUSTON – Rice exploded for 50 points in the second half, erasing a seven-point deficit on the way to an 86-69 win over Abilene Christian at Tudor Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon.
After jumping out to a 24-18 lead through the first quarter, the Owls saw the Wildcats outscore them 24-11 in the second stanza, then take command of the game with a 24-11 quarter of their own after halftime. Senior Ashlee Austin led the charge out of the gate in the second half with four points on a pair of foul shots and a layup off a steal by Destiny Jackson and she closed the quarter with a three-pointer to give Rice a 59-53 lead heading to the fourth. Freshman Kennedy Clifton's three-pointer less than three minutes into the fourth pushed the lead to double-digits and the Owls refuse to allow the Wildcats to fashion a run for the remainder of the game.
Katelyn Crosthwait lead the way with 14 points, her first double-digit scoring effort since she scored 15 vs. Oklahoma State on 11/20/2,1 and Clifton, who entered the scorebook with a three-point play in the first quarter in her first minute of action, finished with 12. Malia Fisher added 11 points and Austin and Jackson each scored 10. Crosthwait added eight rebounds, leading an Owls effort that saw them dominate the glass, 45-29.
After shooting just 23% in the second quarter while ACU hit on 10-15 (66.7%), Rice hit 50% of its shots in the second half (16-32) while clamping down on the Wildcats, who shot 37% (10-27) after intermission.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I thought it was a complete tale of two halves. I thought we showed up a little unfocused and not ready, and our defense showed that. In the second half we showed up and we showed the defensive team that we can be. We rebounded the basketball and because of our defense and our rebounding, we were able to create easier offensive opportunities for us. So really proud of how they responded after halftime, we challenged them and I thought they stepped up and showed who they can really be in that third quarter, so proud of their effort. Now we just have to figure out a way to make sure that we don't start off the game slowly like we did today.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
ACU took an early 9-4 lead before Destiny Jackson scored six straight points to push Rice in front. After ACU tied it 18-18 with 1:29 left in the quarter. Maya Bokunewicz drained a jumper with 1:10 left and then combined with Jazzy Owens-Barnett for a pair of baskets in the final 30 seconds to give Rice a 24-18 lead after one.
Second Quarter
The Wildcats erased the Owls' lead in less than two minutes of the period, tying the game 25-25 and the lead changed hands three times in the quarter before ACU outscored the Owls 8-0 over the last 2:32 of the quarter.
Third Quarter
Rice wasted no time in putting the second quarter behind them, opening with a 10-2 run and took the lead for good with a pair of free throws by Fisher (47-46). Crosthwait followed with a pair of three-pointers to build the lead to seven and Austin's three-pointer with six seconds left slammed the door on a late ACU challenge.
Fourth Quarter
The Owls maintained their momentum in the final quarter. Kennedy's three-pointer pushed the lead to 66-55 and Crosthwait's fourth trey extended it to a game-high 14 points as the Owls shot a blistering 80% (4-5) from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
The Owls embark on their first road trip of the season this week, with games in California vs. St. Mary's College (Wednesday, 10 p.m. central) and Pacific (Friday, 6 p.m). After road games at Texas Southern (November 23) and Texas A&M (November 27), the Owls return home for six home games in December, beginning with TCU on December 2.
After jumping out to a 24-18 lead through the first quarter, the Owls saw the Wildcats outscore them 24-11 in the second stanza, then take command of the game with a 24-11 quarter of their own after halftime. Senior Ashlee Austin led the charge out of the gate in the second half with four points on a pair of foul shots and a layup off a steal by Destiny Jackson and she closed the quarter with a three-pointer to give Rice a 59-53 lead heading to the fourth. Freshman Kennedy Clifton's three-pointer less than three minutes into the fourth pushed the lead to double-digits and the Owls refuse to allow the Wildcats to fashion a run for the remainder of the game.
Katelyn Crosthwait lead the way with 14 points, her first double-digit scoring effort since she scored 15 vs. Oklahoma State on 11/20/2,1 and Clifton, who entered the scorebook with a three-point play in the first quarter in her first minute of action, finished with 12. Malia Fisher added 11 points and Austin and Jackson each scored 10. Crosthwait added eight rebounds, leading an Owls effort that saw them dominate the glass, 45-29.
After shooting just 23% in the second quarter while ACU hit on 10-15 (66.7%), Rice hit 50% of its shots in the second half (16-32) while clamping down on the Wildcats, who shot 37% (10-27) after intermission.
"I thought it was a complete tale of two halves. I thought we showed up a little unfocused and not ready, and our defense showed that. In the second half we showed up and we showed the defensive team that we can be. We rebounded the basketball and because of our defense and our rebounding, we were able to create easier offensive opportunities for us. So really proud of how they responded after halftime, we challenged them and I thought they stepped up and showed who they can really be in that third quarter, so proud of their effort. Now we just have to figure out a way to make sure that we don't start off the game slowly like we did today.
First Quarter
ACU took an early 9-4 lead before Destiny Jackson scored six straight points to push Rice in front. After ACU tied it 18-18 with 1:29 left in the quarter. Maya Bokunewicz drained a jumper with 1:10 left and then combined with Jazzy Owens-Barnett for a pair of baskets in the final 30 seconds to give Rice a 24-18 lead after one.
Second Quarter
The Wildcats erased the Owls' lead in less than two minutes of the period, tying the game 25-25 and the lead changed hands three times in the quarter before ACU outscored the Owls 8-0 over the last 2:32 of the quarter.
Third Quarter
Rice wasted no time in putting the second quarter behind them, opening with a 10-2 run and took the lead for good with a pair of free throws by Fisher (47-46). Crosthwait followed with a pair of three-pointers to build the lead to seven and Austin's three-pointer with six seconds left slammed the door on a late ACU challenge.
Fourth Quarter
The Owls maintained their momentum in the final quarter. Kennedy's three-pointer pushed the lead to 66-55 and Crosthwait's fourth trey extended it to a game-high 14 points as the Owls shot a blistering 80% (4-5) from beyond the arc.
The Owls embark on their first road trip of the season this week, with games in California vs. St. Mary's College (Wednesday, 10 p.m. central) and Pacific (Friday, 6 p.m). After road games at Texas Southern (November 23) and Texas A&M (November 27), the Owls return home for six home games in December, beginning with TCU on December 2.
Team Stats
ACU
Rice
FG%
.500
.469
3FG%
.250
.474
FT%
.583
.593
RB
29
45
TO
20
21
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
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