Thursday, February 24
Ruston, LA
6:30 P.M. CT
Rice University
-1012,59 CUSA
80
at
90
Louisiana Tech
-1610,87 CUSA
1
2
3
4
OT 1
OT 2
F
Rice
17
12
22
19
8
2
80
Louisiana Tech
15
23
16
16
8
12
90
Photo by: Sadie Patton
Lady Techsters Halt Owls’ Winning Streak in Double Overtime
2/24/2022 11:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Austin pours in 27 points in 90-80 setback
RUSTON, La. – The Rice Owls women's basketball team battled for 50 minutes but ultimately came up just short in a 90-80 double overtime loss at Louisiana Tech Thursday evening at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Rice (10-12, 5-9) saw their season-long three-game winning streak come to an end in a game that saw a total of 17 lead changes and nine ties.
Sophomore forward Ashlee Austin led the way for the Owls with a 27-point effort, her second such performance against the Lady Techsters this season. Austin made 9-of-17 shots from the field (5-of-8 at the free throw line) and established a career-high with four made three-pointers. Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson recorded her first career double-double for the Owls, scoring a career-high 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Reigning C-USA Freshman of the Week Malia Fisher just missed out on a double-double, totaling nine points to go along with 14 rebounds in 31 minutes before also fouling out.
Tech (16-10, 8-7) received a game-high 44 points from forward Anna Larr Roberson, who made 20-of-28 shots from the field. Keiunna Walker added 27 points on 9-of-30 shooting from the field to go along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple double.
The overtime contest was Rice's second of the season, having dropped a quadruple overtime game at Charlotte on Jan. 22. It marked the first time the Owls have played multiple extra overtime contests in the same season since the 2015-16 campaign when the Owls defeated North Texas in both triple overtime and double overtime.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I thought tonight we started the game flat and spent the whole second half fighting to dig ourselves out of a hole. Once we dug ourselves out of the hole we just came up short to execute down the stretch because of fatigue or our short bench due to foul trouble. We have to move on quickly, learn from our mistakes and get ready for Saturday."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
After a cold shooting start for both teams, Rice found their footing by winning the quarter 17-15 thanks largely to the team's ability to get to the free throw line and capitalize (7-of-9). Five different Owls scored points in the quarter, including four points apiece from Fisher, Jackson, and Trinity Gooden. Roberson led all players with seven points in the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Lady Techsters carried momentum into halftime by outscoring the Owls 23-12 in the quarter to take a 38-29 lead into the break. Roberson scored eight more points on 4-of-5 shooting and the Lady Techsters shot 61 percent as a team for the quarter, scoring 16 of their 23 points in the paint.
Third Quarter
With the game seemingly slipping away and trailing 44-34 with 5:49 remaining in the period, the Owls caught fire, particularly Austin. The Johns Creek, Ga. native put the team on her back scoring 14 consecutive points on her own to close the quarter, capping a 17-7 run by the Owls to pull to within 54-51 entering the final quarter. Austin made 5-of-9 shots from the field in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers, and joined an eight-point effort from Jackson.
Fourth Quarter
Midway through the final quarter the Owls went on 9-4 run to take their largest lead of the night, a 68-62 advantage with 3:01 remaining. During that stretch the Owls got three-pointers from Jackson and Haylee Swayze, as well as a three-point play from Fisher. However, Tech outscored the Owls 8-2 the rest of the way to force overtime at 70-70.
First Overtime
The final 10 seconds of the first extra five minutes turned into a wild sequence when Tech was whistled for a technical foul leading 78-76 with 10 seconds remaining for stepping over the in-bounds line as the Owls were attempting their final possession. Austin calmly made both free throws to tie the game at 78-78. Fisher then had a chance to win the game but here shot in the paint caromed of the rim.
Second Overtime
Tech outscored the Owls 12-2 as the Owls were already playing without Jackson (fouled out) and then lost Fisher in the early stages of the second OT. Walker scored 11 points in the extra frame for Tech, making 7-of-10 at the free throw line.
UP NEXT
The Owls wrap up their season-long seven day road trip on Saturday in a rematch against Southern Miss from Hattiesburg, Miss. Southern Miss defeated Rice 78-55 in Houston back on Jan. 29. Saturday is an early tip-off at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
Rice (10-12, 5-9) saw their season-long three-game winning streak come to an end in a game that saw a total of 17 lead changes and nine ties.
Sophomore forward Ashlee Austin led the way for the Owls with a 27-point effort, her second such performance against the Lady Techsters this season. Austin made 9-of-17 shots from the field (5-of-8 at the free throw line) and established a career-high with four made three-pointers. Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson recorded her first career double-double for the Owls, scoring a career-high 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Reigning C-USA Freshman of the Week Malia Fisher just missed out on a double-double, totaling nine points to go along with 14 rebounds in 31 minutes before also fouling out.
Tech (16-10, 8-7) received a game-high 44 points from forward Anna Larr Roberson, who made 20-of-28 shots from the field. Keiunna Walker added 27 points on 9-of-30 shooting from the field to go along with 15 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple double.
The overtime contest was Rice's second of the season, having dropped a quadruple overtime game at Charlotte on Jan. 22. It marked the first time the Owls have played multiple extra overtime contests in the same season since the 2015-16 campaign when the Owls defeated North Texas in both triple overtime and double overtime.
"I thought tonight we started the game flat and spent the whole second half fighting to dig ourselves out of a hole. Once we dug ourselves out of the hole we just came up short to execute down the stretch because of fatigue or our short bench due to foul trouble. We have to move on quickly, learn from our mistakes and get ready for Saturday."
First Quarter
After a cold shooting start for both teams, Rice found their footing by winning the quarter 17-15 thanks largely to the team's ability to get to the free throw line and capitalize (7-of-9). Five different Owls scored points in the quarter, including four points apiece from Fisher, Jackson, and Trinity Gooden. Roberson led all players with seven points in the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Lady Techsters carried momentum into halftime by outscoring the Owls 23-12 in the quarter to take a 38-29 lead into the break. Roberson scored eight more points on 4-of-5 shooting and the Lady Techsters shot 61 percent as a team for the quarter, scoring 16 of their 23 points in the paint.
Third Quarter
With the game seemingly slipping away and trailing 44-34 with 5:49 remaining in the period, the Owls caught fire, particularly Austin. The Johns Creek, Ga. native put the team on her back scoring 14 consecutive points on her own to close the quarter, capping a 17-7 run by the Owls to pull to within 54-51 entering the final quarter. Austin made 5-of-9 shots from the field in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers, and joined an eight-point effort from Jackson.
Fourth Quarter
Midway through the final quarter the Owls went on 9-4 run to take their largest lead of the night, a 68-62 advantage with 3:01 remaining. During that stretch the Owls got three-pointers from Jackson and Haylee Swayze, as well as a three-point play from Fisher. However, Tech outscored the Owls 8-2 the rest of the way to force overtime at 70-70.
First Overtime
The final 10 seconds of the first extra five minutes turned into a wild sequence when Tech was whistled for a technical foul leading 78-76 with 10 seconds remaining for stepping over the in-bounds line as the Owls were attempting their final possession. Austin calmly made both free throws to tie the game at 78-78. Fisher then had a chance to win the game but here shot in the paint caromed of the rim.
Second Overtime
Tech outscored the Owls 12-2 as the Owls were already playing without Jackson (fouled out) and then lost Fisher in the early stages of the second OT. Walker scored 11 points in the extra frame for Tech, making 7-of-10 at the free throw line.
The Owls wrap up their season-long seven day road trip on Saturday in a rematch against Southern Miss from Hattiesburg, Miss. Southern Miss defeated Rice 78-55 in Houston back on Jan. 29. Saturday is an early tip-off at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
-RiceOwls.com-
Team Stats
Rice
LATech
FG%
.394
.457
3FG%
.300
.100
FT%
.760
.652
RB
48
44
TO
29
12
STL
3
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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