Thursday, December 29
Houston, TX
7:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-92,02 CUSA
74
vs
79
WKU
-46,10 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Western Ky.
16
26
9
28
79
Rice
26
17
17
14
74
Women’s Basketball Falls Late To Western Kentucky
12/29/2022 10:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Houston, TX – The Rice women's basketball team fell late to Western Kentucky 79-74 Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice opened the fourth quarter with a 60-51 lead, but WKU shot lights out in the fourth (9-of-12 FG, 6-of-6 3FG) to rally the Lady Toppers past the Owls.
Ashlee Austin and Katelyn Crosthwait led the Owls with 16 points, while Destiny Jackson added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Kennedy Clifton added another 12 points with three rebounds and a block.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Obviously that was not the way I wanted that game to go. We talk a lot about protecting the homecourt and playing our best basketball at home, and we didn't do that tonight. Our defense was very lackluster. First half we couldn't contain penetration and second half we couldn't defend the three. We looked like we didn't know what a ball screen coverage was. A lot of things we need to clean up before coming back Saturday and playing a very good UTEP team. [We] go up 12 twice and instead of keeping our foot on the gas, we let them back in the game. Disappointed in our focus and intensity and our inability to put together a 40-minute game."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Fisher opened the game with a layup followed by another layup by Crosthwait before a quick 7-0 run put the Lady Toppers in front. After trading baskets, Crosthwait and Austin connected on back-to-back threes to put Rice up 16-9. The shots continued to fall for Rice with Clifton capping off the scoring with a three to put Rice up 26-16 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Both sides traded possessions until a 9-0 WKU run brought the Lady Topper deficit to one at 30-31 halfway through the second quarter. Trinity Gooden and Austin extended the lead for Rice, but WKU came back to take the lead at 42-41 with 29 seconds left. Austin put Rice in front with a jumper at the buzzer 43-42.
Third Quarter
Jackson got Rice rolling in the third with Crosthwait and Gooden adding baskets to put the Owls up 49-42 just over a minute into the quarter. After a WKU basket, Crosthwait drilled a three, with Austin and Clifton adding layups to cap off the 11-2 run and put Rice up 56-44 halfway through third. The Owls held a 60-51 advantage at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Following two free throws to go up 62-51, WKU hit three-straight three pointers to cut the lead down to two. After a Jackson layup extended the lead to four at 64-60, WKU hit back-to-back threes to take a 66-64 lead with six minutes left. After trading baskets, Jackson put the Owls back on top at 72-71 with 1:31 left, but WKU responded with a 6-0 run before ultimately taking the 79-74 win.
UP NEXT
Rice will be back in action Saturday, when the Owls welcome UTEP to Tudor Fieldhouse at 2:00 p.m.
Ashlee Austin and Katelyn Crosthwait led the Owls with 16 points, while Destiny Jackson added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Kennedy Clifton added another 12 points with three rebounds and a block.
"Obviously that was not the way I wanted that game to go. We talk a lot about protecting the homecourt and playing our best basketball at home, and we didn't do that tonight. Our defense was very lackluster. First half we couldn't contain penetration and second half we couldn't defend the three. We looked like we didn't know what a ball screen coverage was. A lot of things we need to clean up before coming back Saturday and playing a very good UTEP team. [We] go up 12 twice and instead of keeping our foot on the gas, we let them back in the game. Disappointed in our focus and intensity and our inability to put together a 40-minute game."
First Quarter
Fisher opened the game with a layup followed by another layup by Crosthwait before a quick 7-0 run put the Lady Toppers in front. After trading baskets, Crosthwait and Austin connected on back-to-back threes to put Rice up 16-9. The shots continued to fall for Rice with Clifton capping off the scoring with a three to put Rice up 26-16 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Both sides traded possessions until a 9-0 WKU run brought the Lady Topper deficit to one at 30-31 halfway through the second quarter. Trinity Gooden and Austin extended the lead for Rice, but WKU came back to take the lead at 42-41 with 29 seconds left. Austin put Rice in front with a jumper at the buzzer 43-42.
Third Quarter
Jackson got Rice rolling in the third with Crosthwait and Gooden adding baskets to put the Owls up 49-42 just over a minute into the quarter. After a WKU basket, Crosthwait drilled a three, with Austin and Clifton adding layups to cap off the 11-2 run and put Rice up 56-44 halfway through third. The Owls held a 60-51 advantage at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Following two free throws to go up 62-51, WKU hit three-straight three pointers to cut the lead down to two. After a Jackson layup extended the lead to four at 64-60, WKU hit back-to-back threes to take a 66-64 lead with six minutes left. After trading baskets, Jackson put the Owls back on top at 72-71 with 1:31 left, but WKU responded with a 6-0 run before ultimately taking the 79-74 win.
Rice will be back in action Saturday, when the Owls welcome UTEP to Tudor Fieldhouse at 2:00 p.m.
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Team Stats
WestKy
Rice
FG%
.467
.500
3FG%
.444
.391
FT%
.550
.619
RB
30
35
TO
13
19
STL
16
7
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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