Saturday, February 19
Houston, TX
2:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-911,48 CUSA
73
vs
67
FIU
-1212,49 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
FIU
7
21
16
23
67
Rice
14
11
22
26
73
Owls Execute Late to Defeat FIU, 73-67
2/19/2022 5:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Fisher records sixth double-double of the season in victory
HOUSTON – The Rice Owls women's basketball team put the finishing touches on a weekend home sweep by defeating the FIU Panthers 73-67 Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Rice (9-11, 4-8) won consecutive Conference USA contests for the first time this season thanks in large part to a sensational performance as a team at the free throw line, making a season-high 31 free throws on 36 attempts (86%), tied for the fifth-most made free throws by a Rice team in program history.
The Owls had three players reach double-figures in points, headlined by freshman Malia Fisher who notched her sixth double-double of the season with a team-best 17 points to go along with a season-high 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds were the most by a C-USA player this season during league play. Fisher stepped up with an 11-of-13 performance at the charity stripe, including 8-of-8 in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore forward Ashlee Austin turned in her fifth straight game in double-figure scoring and seventh in her last eight with 16 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Sophomore point guard Destiny Jackson also scored in double-figures with 14 points, which included a 6-of-6 effort at the free throw line.
Rice won the battle of the boards against the Panthers (12-12, 4-9) by a 40-36 margin and limited FIU to just 33 percent shooting from the field.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm so proud of this team for everything we have accomplished this week. We talk every day about winning each day and they really locked in on that. We had another great total team effort. Putting together back to back conference wins for the first time this season is an awesome accomplishment and I'm so happy for our young ladies. Hopefully we just continue to build on this momentum!"
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls doubled up FIU 14-7 in the opening 10 minutes, making 6-of-8 shots from field, including a three-pointer from Fisher. Rice scored 10 of those 14 points in the paint with Austin contributing five points and Jackson adding four points. The Owls suffocated FIU defensively, limiting the Panthers to just 2-of-16 shooting (12.5 percent) and three turnovers.
Second Quarter
FIU outscored Rice 21-11 and closed the half on an 8-0 run over the final 1:19, including a banked-in three-pointer from Kyla Nelson has the quarter horn sounded. Austin added six more points for the Owls in the quarter on 2-of-3 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 at the free throw line but it was the Panthers who took the lead into the locker room. The Owls would register just their second victory of the season when trailing at the break.
Third Quarter
A balanced scoring attack with six different scorers put Rice in the position they wanted to be in heading to the fourth as they outscored FIU, 22-16, to regain a 47-44 advantage. Austin and freshman Trinity Gooden led the way with five points apiece in a quarter in which the Owls shot 54 percent and recorded six assists on their seven made field goals.
Fourth Quarter
With Rice clinging to a 55-54 lead with 4:42 remaining, the Owls proceeded to go on a critical 9-0 run to open up a 64-54 cushion at the 2:18 mark. During that stretch, Jackson and India Bellamy scored four points apiece and Fisher hit a pair of free throws. The Owls would win the quarter, 26-23, with a stellar performance at the free throw line, making a staggering 20-of-22 with Fisher (8-of-8), Jackson (4-of-4), and Haylee Swayze (4-of-4) not missing a single attempt.
UP NEXT
The Owls hit the road for three games next week, beginning Monday, Feb. 21 with a 5 p.m. tip-off at UAB.
Rice (9-11, 4-8) won consecutive Conference USA contests for the first time this season thanks in large part to a sensational performance as a team at the free throw line, making a season-high 31 free throws on 36 attempts (86%), tied for the fifth-most made free throws by a Rice team in program history.
The Owls had three players reach double-figures in points, headlined by freshman Malia Fisher who notched her sixth double-double of the season with a team-best 17 points to go along with a season-high 18 rebounds. The 18 rebounds were the most by a C-USA player this season during league play. Fisher stepped up with an 11-of-13 performance at the charity stripe, including 8-of-8 in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore forward Ashlee Austin turned in her fifth straight game in double-figure scoring and seventh in her last eight with 16 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Sophomore point guard Destiny Jackson also scored in double-figures with 14 points, which included a 6-of-6 effort at the free throw line.
Rice won the battle of the boards against the Panthers (12-12, 4-9) by a 40-36 margin and limited FIU to just 33 percent shooting from the field.
"I'm so proud of this team for everything we have accomplished this week. We talk every day about winning each day and they really locked in on that. We had another great total team effort. Putting together back to back conference wins for the first time this season is an awesome accomplishment and I'm so happy for our young ladies. Hopefully we just continue to build on this momentum!"
First Quarter
The Owls doubled up FIU 14-7 in the opening 10 minutes, making 6-of-8 shots from field, including a three-pointer from Fisher. Rice scored 10 of those 14 points in the paint with Austin contributing five points and Jackson adding four points. The Owls suffocated FIU defensively, limiting the Panthers to just 2-of-16 shooting (12.5 percent) and three turnovers.
Second Quarter
FIU outscored Rice 21-11 and closed the half on an 8-0 run over the final 1:19, including a banked-in three-pointer from Kyla Nelson has the quarter horn sounded. Austin added six more points for the Owls in the quarter on 2-of-3 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 at the free throw line but it was the Panthers who took the lead into the locker room. The Owls would register just their second victory of the season when trailing at the break.
Third Quarter
A balanced scoring attack with six different scorers put Rice in the position they wanted to be in heading to the fourth as they outscored FIU, 22-16, to regain a 47-44 advantage. Austin and freshman Trinity Gooden led the way with five points apiece in a quarter in which the Owls shot 54 percent and recorded six assists on their seven made field goals.
Fourth Quarter
With Rice clinging to a 55-54 lead with 4:42 remaining, the Owls proceeded to go on a critical 9-0 run to open up a 64-54 cushion at the 2:18 mark. During that stretch, Jackson and India Bellamy scored four points apiece and Fisher hit a pair of free throws. The Owls would win the quarter, 26-23, with a stellar performance at the free throw line, making a staggering 20-of-22 with Fisher (8-of-8), Jackson (4-of-4), and Haylee Swayze (4-of-4) not missing a single attempt.
The Owls hit the road for three games next week, beginning Monday, Feb. 21 with a 5 p.m. tip-off at UAB.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
FIU
Rice
FG%
.328
.413
3FG%
.200
.200
FT%
.704
.861
RB
36
40
TO
15
22
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
11
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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