Saturday, February 18
Bowling Green, KY
1:00 P.M. CT
Rice University
-187,97 CUSA
82
at
64
WKU
-1411,115 CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
22
15
22
23
82
Western Ky.
16
16
10
22
64
Bellamy’s Career Day Powers Rice Past Western Kentucky
2/18/2023 3:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN – The Rice women's basketball team bounced back in dominant fashion as the Owls defeated Western Kentucky 82-64 behind a lights out performance from India Bellamy with a career high 27 points on a near-perfect 11-of-12 shooting display. Bellamy also added six rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Ashlee Austin added another 15 points, including a 3-of-5 showing from downtown, while also adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Katelyn Crosthwait rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
As a team Rice shot 27-of-50 (54%) from the floor and 7-of-20 (35%) from three-point range. The Owls also shot 21-of-28 from the free throw line while also adding 22 points off of 18 WKU turnovers.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"What a game! I'm so proud of this team! I thought we started fast and kept our foot on the gas and we kept our composure for 40 minutes against a very good Western Kentucky team. Today was a total team effort and a great win!"
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The two sides traded scores early until Bellamy dropped seven-straight points with Austin following with a three pointer to give the Owls a 12-4 lead. Jazzy Owens-Barnett continued the run with free throws before WKU began chipping away at the deficit. Shelby Hayes closed the quarter with free throws as the Owls led 22-16.
Second Quarter
After a Lady Topper basket, Dominique Ennis drilled a three-pointer followed by layups from Kennedy Clifton and Bellamy to give Rice a 29-18 lead. After Crosthwait's three put Rice up 32-21, WKU embarked on a 10-0 run to cut the lead down to one with 3:15 remaining. After Crosthwait converted a pair of free throws following a flagrant foul, Haylee Swayze extended the Owl lead to five with another Rice three. The Owls held a 37-32 lead at the break.
Third Quarter
A pair of free throws cut the lead to three points to open the third before Bellamy sparked a run with a layup. Crosthwait soon followed with a layup with Austin drilling back-to-back threes to put Rice up 47-34. Crosthwait hit a floater to extend the lead before WKU snapped the 12-0 Rice run. Destiny Jackson and Dominique Ennis kept the Owl offense rolling as the Owls took a 59-42 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Austin and Bellamy extended the Owl lead to 21 before a quick 9-0 WKU run brought the Rice lead down to 63-51. Bellamy sparked another Rice run, with Crosthwait and Jackson contributing to grow the lead to 74-55. The Owls continued to counter each WKU basket as Rice came away with the 82-64 victory.
UP NEXT
The Owls return home next week when the team welcomes UAB to Tudor Fieldhouse Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Ashlee Austin added another 15 points, including a 3-of-5 showing from downtown, while also adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Katelyn Crosthwait rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
As a team Rice shot 27-of-50 (54%) from the floor and 7-of-20 (35%) from three-point range. The Owls also shot 21-of-28 from the free throw line while also adding 22 points off of 18 WKU turnovers.
"What a game! I'm so proud of this team! I thought we started fast and kept our foot on the gas and we kept our composure for 40 minutes against a very good Western Kentucky team. Today was a total team effort and a great win!"
First Quarter
The two sides traded scores early until Bellamy dropped seven-straight points with Austin following with a three pointer to give the Owls a 12-4 lead. Jazzy Owens-Barnett continued the run with free throws before WKU began chipping away at the deficit. Shelby Hayes closed the quarter with free throws as the Owls led 22-16.
Second Quarter
After a Lady Topper basket, Dominique Ennis drilled a three-pointer followed by layups from Kennedy Clifton and Bellamy to give Rice a 29-18 lead. After Crosthwait's three put Rice up 32-21, WKU embarked on a 10-0 run to cut the lead down to one with 3:15 remaining. After Crosthwait converted a pair of free throws following a flagrant foul, Haylee Swayze extended the Owl lead to five with another Rice three. The Owls held a 37-32 lead at the break.
Third Quarter
A pair of free throws cut the lead to three points to open the third before Bellamy sparked a run with a layup. Crosthwait soon followed with a layup with Austin drilling back-to-back threes to put Rice up 47-34. Crosthwait hit a floater to extend the lead before WKU snapped the 12-0 Rice run. Destiny Jackson and Dominique Ennis kept the Owl offense rolling as the Owls took a 59-42 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Austin and Bellamy extended the Owl lead to 21 before a quick 9-0 WKU run brought the Rice lead down to 63-51. Bellamy sparked another Rice run, with Crosthwait and Jackson contributing to grow the lead to 74-55. The Owls continued to counter each WKU basket as Rice came away with the 82-64 victory.
The Owls return home next week when the team welcomes UAB to Tudor Fieldhouse Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Rice
WestKy
FG%
.540
.328
3FG%
.350
.179
FT%
.750
.680
RB
40
31
TO
20
18
STL
12
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB Press Conference - UAB 2-25-25
Wednesday, February 26
WBB Press Conference - Florida Atlantic 2-18-25
Wednesday, February 19
WBB Press Conference - Tulsa 1-29-25
Thursday, January 30
WBB Press Conference - East Carolina 1-18-25
Saturday, January 18