Rice’s Comeback Falls Short in Overtime
12/20/2023 6:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – After trailing nearly the entire game, Dominique Ennis tied the game in the final seconds to force overtime, but the Owls fell short in the extra frame 71-63 on the road against Houston. The Owls fall to 6-5 on the season.
Ennis led the Owls with 16 points, two steals and a rebound while Jazzy Owens-Barnett added 11 points, two assists and a rebound.
As a team, Rice shot 20-of-58 (34.5%) from the floor and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 20-of-23 (87.0%) shooting display from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Same as last year, a hard-fought battle, obviously we didn't come out on top, but a great basketball game. A lot of areas for growth for my team that we can get better at. Proud of our effort, proud of our energy and proud of our fight to come back. I told them it was going to be a war when we got here, and it was, but unfortunately, we came up a little short."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Shelby Hayes opened the game with a layup with Emily Klaczek following with a basket to give Rice an early 4-0 lead. After trading scores, a quick 10-2 run gave the Cougars a 15-10 advantage. Maya Bokunewicz brought Rice within two, followed by four free throws by Owens-Barnett to give Rice a 17-15 lead. Houston took a 21-19 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
UH scored the first three baskets before Ennis and Destiny Jackson brought the Owls back within three. The Cougars followed with an 8-1 run to take a 10-point lead. Jackson and Hailey Adams snapped the run, with Houston holding a 36-28 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
Klaczek opened the third quarter with a layup, but the Cougars responded with a 6-0 run to take their largest lead at 12 points. Jackson got the Owls back on the board, with Adams and Fisher following to make the deficit 43-36. Trailing by nine, Ennis and Fisher connected on back-to-back layups to get within five. Ennis later drilled a three-pointer to get within two at 47-45, but UH extened the lead to 52-47 to close the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
After trading scores, Owens-Barnett's layup brought the Owls within three at 54-51. Down by two, Ennis hit a three-pointer to give Rice its first lead since the opening quarter. The Cougars went on a 7-0 run to take a six-point lead with just over four minutes left. Ennis and Jackson cut the deficit to 61-59, but Houston was able to extend the lead back to four with 1:39 left. Owens-Barnett's layup got Rice within two, and following a pair of missed free throws by Houston, Ennis tied the game with 13 seconds remaining. The Owls got the defensive stop with an offensive foul called on Houston with 1.4 seconds left, but the following inbounds play wasn't able to develop as the two stayed tied 63-63 at the end of regulation.
Overtime
After both sides failed to score for half of the overtime frame, Britney Onyeje hit was ended up being the game-winner as Houston went on to win 72-63. Rice shot 0-of-9 in the overtime period.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
Rice will open AAC play on Jan. 3, 2024 at Tudor Fieldhouse against Wichita State.
Ennis led the Owls with 16 points, two steals and a rebound while Jazzy Owens-Barnett added 11 points, two assists and a rebound.
As a team, Rice shot 20-of-58 (34.5%) from the floor and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 20-of-23 (87.0%) shooting display from the free throw line.
"Same as last year, a hard-fought battle, obviously we didn't come out on top, but a great basketball game. A lot of areas for growth for my team that we can get better at. Proud of our effort, proud of our energy and proud of our fight to come back. I told them it was going to be a war when we got here, and it was, but unfortunately, we came up a little short."
First Quarter
Shelby Hayes opened the game with a layup with Emily Klaczek following with a basket to give Rice an early 4-0 lead. After trading scores, a quick 10-2 run gave the Cougars a 15-10 advantage. Maya Bokunewicz brought Rice within two, followed by four free throws by Owens-Barnett to give Rice a 17-15 lead. Houston took a 21-19 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
UH scored the first three baskets before Ennis and Destiny Jackson brought the Owls back within three. The Cougars followed with an 8-1 run to take a 10-point lead. Jackson and Hailey Adams snapped the run, with Houston holding a 36-28 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
Klaczek opened the third quarter with a layup, but the Cougars responded with a 6-0 run to take their largest lead at 12 points. Jackson got the Owls back on the board, with Adams and Fisher following to make the deficit 43-36. Trailing by nine, Ennis and Fisher connected on back-to-back layups to get within five. Ennis later drilled a three-pointer to get within two at 47-45, but UH extened the lead to 52-47 to close the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
After trading scores, Owens-Barnett's layup brought the Owls within three at 54-51. Down by two, Ennis hit a three-pointer to give Rice its first lead since the opening quarter. The Cougars went on a 7-0 run to take a six-point lead with just over four minutes left. Ennis and Jackson cut the deficit to 61-59, but Houston was able to extend the lead back to four with 1:39 left. Owens-Barnett's layup got Rice within two, and following a pair of missed free throws by Houston, Ennis tied the game with 13 seconds remaining. The Owls got the defensive stop with an offensive foul called on Houston with 1.4 seconds left, but the following inbounds play wasn't able to develop as the two stayed tied 63-63 at the end of regulation.
Overtime
After both sides failed to score for half of the overtime frame, Britney Onyeje hit was ended up being the game-winner as Houston went on to win 72-63. Rice shot 0-of-9 in the overtime period.
- The Owls are now 11-48 all-time against Houston.
Rice will open AAC play on Jan. 3, 2024 at Tudor Fieldhouse against Wichita State.
Players Mentioned
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