Friday, March 17
Provo, UT
8:00 PM CT
Rice University
-238,137 CUSA
71
at
67
Brigham Young University
16-17,9-9WCC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
18
20
10
23
71
BYU
13
14
14
26
67
Rice Defeats BYU to Advance to WNIT Second Round
3/17/2023 10:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PROVO – The Rice women's basketball team led wire-to-wire to pick up the first postseason win under head coach Lindsay Edmonds as the Owls defeated BYU 71-67 at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
Dominique Ennis led the Owls with 13 points while adding two assists and a steal. India Bellamy added another 12 points, four rebounds, two blocks and an assist while Katelyn Crosthwait added 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Shelby Hayes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, six rebounds, and a block and assist.
As a team Rice shot 27-of-65 (42%) from the floor and 6-of-20 (30%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 11-of-14 showing from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"First postseason win under our belt. I am so, so proud of this group to come into this place, in this environment, against a really good BYU team and get a win, I'm just so proud. We fought, everything wasn't always perfect. They went on runs, but we answered with runs right back. We had a really balanced attack again tonight with four in double figures and two more with seven [points]. I thought again that the group was just so tough and I'm just super proud and we are ready for the next one."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Bellamy got the Owls going with a layup to open the game, with Ennis and Ashlee Austin following with back-to-back threes to give Rice an 8-0 lead. Bellamy capped the run with another basket before BYU was able to get on the board. Leading 12-7, Hayes went to work in the paint, scoring several baskets to keep Rice in front. Destiny Jackson closed the quarter with a last-second layup to give the Owls a 18-13 lead.
Second Quarter
Jackson extended the lead to seven to open the second quarter before the Cougars hit back-to-back shots to get within three, forcing a Rice timeout. Malia Fisher got the Owls offense going, with Ennis following with a three point to extend the lead to 25-17. Hayes gave Rice a double-digit lead as the two sides traded baskets. Austin closed the quarter with another last-second shot for the Owls, this time with a three pointer as Rice led 38-27 at the break.
Third Quarter
Jazzy Owens-Barnett got the offense going with a layup to open the second half. After BYU cut the lead down to 42-35, Jackson snapped the run with a layup. The two sides traded baskets to close the quarter, with Bellamy hitting a jumper at the buzzer to give Rice a 48-41 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Bellamy opened the fourth with a layup as the two sides traded baskets early. After Crosthwait's three put the Owls up 58-48 with 6:51 left, a quick 7-0 run by BYU forced a Rice timeout. Bellamy snapped the run to extend the Rice lead to 60-55, but BYU kept hitting shots to close the deficit. With Rice leading 65-62, Crosthwait drilled a huge three pointer to give the Owls a six-point lead with 1:41 remaining. Ennis and Jackson sealed the game with free throws as the Owls pulled out the 71-67 victory.
UP NEXT
The Owls will face Oregon in second round of the WNIT on Monday, March 20, at 8:00 p.m. CT.
Dominique Ennis led the Owls with 13 points while adding two assists and a steal. India Bellamy added another 12 points, four rebounds, two blocks and an assist while Katelyn Crosthwait added 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Shelby Hayes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, six rebounds, and a block and assist.
As a team Rice shot 27-of-65 (42%) from the floor and 6-of-20 (30%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 11-of-14 showing from the free throw line.
"First postseason win under our belt. I am so, so proud of this group to come into this place, in this environment, against a really good BYU team and get a win, I'm just so proud. We fought, everything wasn't always perfect. They went on runs, but we answered with runs right back. We had a really balanced attack again tonight with four in double figures and two more with seven [points]. I thought again that the group was just so tough and I'm just super proud and we are ready for the next one."
First Quarter
Bellamy got the Owls going with a layup to open the game, with Ennis and Ashlee Austin following with back-to-back threes to give Rice an 8-0 lead. Bellamy capped the run with another basket before BYU was able to get on the board. Leading 12-7, Hayes went to work in the paint, scoring several baskets to keep Rice in front. Destiny Jackson closed the quarter with a last-second layup to give the Owls a 18-13 lead.
Second Quarter
Jackson extended the lead to seven to open the second quarter before the Cougars hit back-to-back shots to get within three, forcing a Rice timeout. Malia Fisher got the Owls offense going, with Ennis following with a three point to extend the lead to 25-17. Hayes gave Rice a double-digit lead as the two sides traded baskets. Austin closed the quarter with another last-second shot for the Owls, this time with a three pointer as Rice led 38-27 at the break.
Third Quarter
Jazzy Owens-Barnett got the offense going with a layup to open the second half. After BYU cut the lead down to 42-35, Jackson snapped the run with a layup. The two sides traded baskets to close the quarter, with Bellamy hitting a jumper at the buzzer to give Rice a 48-41 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Bellamy opened the fourth with a layup as the two sides traded baskets early. After Crosthwait's three put the Owls up 58-48 with 6:51 left, a quick 7-0 run by BYU forced a Rice timeout. Bellamy snapped the run to extend the Rice lead to 60-55, but BYU kept hitting shots to close the deficit. With Rice leading 65-62, Crosthwait drilled a huge three pointer to give the Owls a six-point lead with 1:41 remaining. Ennis and Jackson sealed the game with free throws as the Owls pulled out the 71-67 victory.
The Owls will face Oregon in second round of the WNIT on Monday, March 20, at 8:00 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Rice
BYU
FG%
.415
.409
3FG%
.300
.292
FT%
.786
.667
RB
36
44
TO
7
10
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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