Saturday, December 2
Corpus Christi, TX
1 p.m.
Rice University
5-3,0-0AAC
84
at
56
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
3-4,0-0Southland
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
22
24
16
22
84
A&M-Corpus Christi
14
14
15
13
56
Five Owls Reach Double Figures in Dominant Win over Islanders
12/2/2023 4:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CORPUS CHRISTI – The Owls took control early and never looked back as the Rice women's basketball team led wire-to-wire en route to an 84-56 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday afternoon. The win moves Rice's record to 5-3 to start the season.
Dominique Ennis led the Owls with 14 points, with four rebounds and a block while Jazzy Owens-Barnett added 13 points and two steals. Maya Bokunewicz finished with 12 points, with four three-pointers, while adding three assists and two rebounds. Hailey Adams finished with a career-high 11 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Shelby Hayes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, a career-high five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 28-of-61 (45.9%) from the floor and 10-of-26 (38.5%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 18-of-21 (85.7%) showing from the free throw line. The Owls held the Islanders to just 19-of-53 (35.8%) shooting from the floor and 3-of-16 (18.8%) from three. Rice forced 21 turnovers, scoring 20 points off those turnovers.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Man, that was fun basketball. To put together back-to-back games with impressive statement wins, I'm really proud of our group. I thought we came out swinging and we kept punching. We won all four quarters, we finished the game with five in double figures and we had 20 assists. Again, we're a very selfless team. When we're pushing pace and sharing the basketball, we're really, really good. I'm excited about where we are at and excited about bettering our best. Each day getting better and better. I think this group is really special and we are starting to show why."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Ennis opened the game right where she left off in her previous outing by draining a three-pointer and quickly followed with a layup to give the Owls a quick 5-0 lead. Hayes' layup, followed by a pair of Malia Fisher free throws, gave Rice a 9-0 lead to open the game before the Islanders netted their first basket. Emily Klaczek and Fisher extended the lead to 11 before a 10-2 run brought the Islanders within four. After trading scores, Bokunewicz capped off the quarter with a three-pointer, as Rice led 22-14.
Second Quarter
Following an Islander score, Bokunewicz hit another three to extend Rice's lead to nine, and later hit another triple to give the Owls a 30-19 lead. With the Owls up 37-26, Jazzy Owens-Barnett hit another Rice three-pointer to extend the lead to 14 points. Hailey Adams and Hayes countered Islander scores to maintain the lead, with Owens-Barnett's free throws at the end of the half giving Rice a 46-28 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
A quick four points cut into the Owls lead, but a Hayes jumper and Ennis three started a 10-0 Owls run, capped off by a miraculous Adams half-court three as the shot clock was sounding to give Rice a 56-32 lead. The Owls led 62-43 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Hayes' layup opened the fourth quarter, with Bokunewicz later hitting a three to extend the lead to 69-45. After threes from Kennedy Clifton and Owens-Barnett gave Rice a 25-point lead, Fatou Samb hit the next six Owl points, as Rice went on to win 84-56.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls will return to action next Saturday at Tudor Fieldhouse when the team welcomes Gonzaga.
Dominique Ennis led the Owls with 14 points, with four rebounds and a block while Jazzy Owens-Barnett added 13 points and two steals. Maya Bokunewicz finished with 12 points, with four three-pointers, while adding three assists and two rebounds. Hailey Adams finished with a career-high 11 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Shelby Hayes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, a career-high five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 28-of-61 (45.9%) from the floor and 10-of-26 (38.5%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 18-of-21 (85.7%) showing from the free throw line. The Owls held the Islanders to just 19-of-53 (35.8%) shooting from the floor and 3-of-16 (18.8%) from three. Rice forced 21 turnovers, scoring 20 points off those turnovers.
"Man, that was fun basketball. To put together back-to-back games with impressive statement wins, I'm really proud of our group. I thought we came out swinging and we kept punching. We won all four quarters, we finished the game with five in double figures and we had 20 assists. Again, we're a very selfless team. When we're pushing pace and sharing the basketball, we're really, really good. I'm excited about where we are at and excited about bettering our best. Each day getting better and better. I think this group is really special and we are starting to show why."
First Quarter
Ennis opened the game right where she left off in her previous outing by draining a three-pointer and quickly followed with a layup to give the Owls a quick 5-0 lead. Hayes' layup, followed by a pair of Malia Fisher free throws, gave Rice a 9-0 lead to open the game before the Islanders netted their first basket. Emily Klaczek and Fisher extended the lead to 11 before a 10-2 run brought the Islanders within four. After trading scores, Bokunewicz capped off the quarter with a three-pointer, as Rice led 22-14.
Second Quarter
Following an Islander score, Bokunewicz hit another three to extend Rice's lead to nine, and later hit another triple to give the Owls a 30-19 lead. With the Owls up 37-26, Jazzy Owens-Barnett hit another Rice three-pointer to extend the lead to 14 points. Hailey Adams and Hayes countered Islander scores to maintain the lead, with Owens-Barnett's free throws at the end of the half giving Rice a 46-28 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
A quick four points cut into the Owls lead, but a Hayes jumper and Ennis three started a 10-0 Owls run, capped off by a miraculous Adams half-court three as the shot clock was sounding to give Rice a 56-32 lead. The Owls led 62-43 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Hayes' layup opened the fourth quarter, with Bokunewicz later hitting a three to extend the lead to 69-45. After threes from Kennedy Clifton and Owens-Barnett gave Rice a 25-point lead, Fatou Samb hit the next six Owl points, as Rice went on to win 84-56.
- With the win, Rice is now 7-2 all-time against Texas A&M-CC, and has won the last four meetings.
- The Owls set season-highs in points (84), assists (20), steals (14) and blocks (7).
- Adams has set a career-high in points in back-to-back games.
- Hayes set a career-high with five assists.
- Clifton had a career-high four steals.
- Ashlyn Zhang recorded her first career point with a free throw.
- Five Owls recorded blocks in the game.
The Owls will return to action next Saturday at Tudor Fieldhouse when the team welcomes Gonzaga.
Team Stats
Rice
TA&MCC
FG%
.459
.358
3FG%
.385
.188
FT%
.857
.652
RB
37
34
TO
13
21
STL
14
9
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
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