PREVIEW: Owls, Ducks Set for Second Round WNIT Battle
3/19/2023 4:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Rice Owls (23-8, 13-7 C-USA) vs Oregon Ducks (18-14, 7-11 PAC 12)
Game 32 • Monday, March 20, 2023 • 8:00 p.m. CT
Eugene, Oregon • Matthew Knight Center
Video Stream: Pac 12 plus
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB |
WNIT Second Round
The Rice Owls will face Oregon in the second round of the WNIT Monday night in Eugene, Oregon. Rice's trip to the WNIT marked the 15th time in program history that Rice competed in postseason play and also marks the 10th appearance in the WNIT. The Owls last appeared in the WNIT in 2021, when Rice won the tournament.
Last Time Out
The Owls led wire-to-wire to defeat BYU in the opening round of the WNIT in Provo, Utah. Dominique Ennis led the way with 13 points for Rice, with India Bellamy adding another 12 points. Four Owls finished the game with double-digit points.
Rice vs. Oregon
This is the first meeting between the two schools and first PAC 12 opponent for Rice since 2021, when the Owls defeated Arizona State in the opening round of the WNIT 48-36.
C-USA Honors
Rice senior Ashlee Austin and sophomore Malia Fisher earned spots on the C-USA All-Conference Second Team. This is the second-straight year Austin earned a spot on the second team while Fisher was on the All-Freshman team and was a honorable mention last season.
Rising Star
After earning her first two career starts last week, Dominique Ennis has been named Conference USA Freshman of the Week (2/13). Ennis tied a career high in points with 12 and grabbed a career high five steals in Rice's 85-64 win against FAU.
DJ's World (We're Just Living In It)
Destiny Jackson was named the C-USA Player of the Week on Dec. 12 after her career performance against Houston, scoring a career-high 33 points on 12-of-14 shooting while adding seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jackson has reached double-digit points in seven of the Owls' eight games this season.
A Historic Start
Rice wrapped up non-conference play with a perfect 9-0 record, marking the best start in program history. During the non-conference slate, Rice picked up a win over crosstown rival Houston 91-88 (2OT) and earned back-to-back wins against Power 5 programs, taking down Texas A&M in College Station 66-58 and then defending the homecourt against TCU 68-58.
Austin Tabbed for Preseason Honors, Owls Picked Fourth
Senior forward Ashlee Austin was named to the Conference USA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team while league coaches picked the Owls to finish fourth in the conference race. Austin earned second-team, all-conference honors as a junior after a season in which she was the only player in C-USA to rank in the top 13 in points per game, field goal percentage, free throws made, and free throw percentage. She ranked fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (46.3) and fifth in scoring with 16.5 points per game as well as free throws made (122). She established career bests in nearly every statistical category and scored in double figures in 22 of 27 games, highlighted by a pair of 30-point efforts (Sam Houston & Charlotte).
Game 32 • Monday, March 20, 2023 • 8:00 p.m. CT
Eugene, Oregon • Matthew Knight Center
Video Stream: Pac 12 plus
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Twitter Updates: @RiceWBB |
WNIT Second Round
The Rice Owls will face Oregon in the second round of the WNIT Monday night in Eugene, Oregon. Rice's trip to the WNIT marked the 15th time in program history that Rice competed in postseason play and also marks the 10th appearance in the WNIT. The Owls last appeared in the WNIT in 2021, when Rice won the tournament.
Last Time Out
The Owls led wire-to-wire to defeat BYU in the opening round of the WNIT in Provo, Utah. Dominique Ennis led the way with 13 points for Rice, with India Bellamy adding another 12 points. Four Owls finished the game with double-digit points.
Rice vs. Oregon
This is the first meeting between the two schools and first PAC 12 opponent for Rice since 2021, when the Owls defeated Arizona State in the opening round of the WNIT 48-36.
C-USA Honors
Rice senior Ashlee Austin and sophomore Malia Fisher earned spots on the C-USA All-Conference Second Team. This is the second-straight year Austin earned a spot on the second team while Fisher was on the All-Freshman team and was a honorable mention last season.
Rising Star
After earning her first two career starts last week, Dominique Ennis has been named Conference USA Freshman of the Week (2/13). Ennis tied a career high in points with 12 and grabbed a career high five steals in Rice's 85-64 win against FAU.
DJ's World (We're Just Living In It)
Destiny Jackson was named the C-USA Player of the Week on Dec. 12 after her career performance against Houston, scoring a career-high 33 points on 12-of-14 shooting while adding seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jackson has reached double-digit points in seven of the Owls' eight games this season.
A Historic Start
Rice wrapped up non-conference play with a perfect 9-0 record, marking the best start in program history. During the non-conference slate, Rice picked up a win over crosstown rival Houston 91-88 (2OT) and earned back-to-back wins against Power 5 programs, taking down Texas A&M in College Station 66-58 and then defending the homecourt against TCU 68-58.
Austin Tabbed for Preseason Honors, Owls Picked Fourth
Senior forward Ashlee Austin was named to the Conference USA Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team while league coaches picked the Owls to finish fourth in the conference race. Austin earned second-team, all-conference honors as a junior after a season in which she was the only player in C-USA to rank in the top 13 in points per game, field goal percentage, free throws made, and free throw percentage. She ranked fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (46.3) and fifth in scoring with 16.5 points per game as well as free throws made (122). She established career bests in nearly every statistical category and scored in double figures in 22 of 27 games, highlighted by a pair of 30-point efforts (Sam Houston & Charlotte).
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