Sunday, January 14
Houston, TX
12 p.m.
Rice University
9-6,3-1AAC
67
vs
64
South Florida
11-7,3-2AAC
1
2
3
4
F
South Fla.
20
13
16
15
64
Rice
21
10
14
22
67
Owls Top South Florida Behind Fisher’s Career Day
1/14/2024 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – Clinging to a three-point lead in the closing seconds, Malia Fisher's block on a South Florida three-point attempt sealed a 67-64 victory for the Rice women's basketball team Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse in front of a national audience on ESPNU. The Owls move to 9-6 (3-1 AAC) on the season.
Fisher ended the day with her 12th career double-double (second of the season) with a career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds while adding two steals and two blocks. Dominique Ennis added 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 21-of-52 (40.4%) from the field and 6-of-13 (46.2%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 19-of-22 (86.4%) showing from the free throw line, including a perfect 10-of-10 in the fourth quarter. Rice scored 17 points off of 14 South Florida turnovers.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Oh, man! It feels good to come in here after a win and after a win like that. Really proud of these young ladies. I'm so happy for them, they deserve it. We bounced back, things did not go our way Thursday. We could have came in here feeling sorry for ourselves, but we didn't. We bounced back in a big way and showed how dominant we can be, how impressive we can be, and how deep we are. Really, really proud of the grit and determination this group showed today."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Shelby Hayes recorded the Owls' first basket before the Bulls quickly jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Down by five, Destiny Jackson kickstarted a 10-0 run, with Ennis and Fisher contributing along the way. Leading 16-11, Ennis drilled Rice's first three-pointer to extend the lead. A South Florida run closed the gap, but a pair of free throws from Ennis gave the Owls a 21-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The Bulls took the lead to open the second quarter, with Jazzy Owens-Barnett grabbing the lead back as the two sides traded scores early. After South Florida took a seven-point lead, Ennis and Emily Klaczek hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to 31-30. South Florida led 33-31 at the half.
Third Quarter
Jackson's layup tied the game to open the second half, with a quick 5-0 run giving the lead back to South Florida. Fisher responded with a 5-0 run of her own, with a layup and later hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 38-38. Trailing by seven, Trinity Gooden's and-one conversion, followed by an Ennis layup, cut the deficit down to two. Rice trailed 49-45 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Klaczek cut the deficit to one point with a three-pointer, but South Florida responded with a three of their own to expand the lead back to four. Maya Bokunewicz responded with another Rice three as the two sides continued to trade baskets. Down 56-55, Fisher's layup gave the Owls the lead, but free throws on the opposite end gave the lead back to the Bulls. With South Florida leading 59-57, Fisher scored six-straight points to give Rice a four-point lead with 2:48 left. After a South Florida score, Ennis' layup followed by a pair of Fisher free throws gave Rice a 67-61 lead with 1:17 remaining. After cutting the deficit to three, South Florida had one final chance to tie the game for overtime, but Fisher came through with a game-sealing block on the three-point attempt to give Rice the 67-64 win.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
Rice will begin a three-game road trip next Wednesday at East Carolina.
Fisher ended the day with her 12th career double-double (second of the season) with a career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds while adding two steals and two blocks. Dominique Ennis added 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 21-of-52 (40.4%) from the field and 6-of-13 (46.2%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 19-of-22 (86.4%) showing from the free throw line, including a perfect 10-of-10 in the fourth quarter. Rice scored 17 points off of 14 South Florida turnovers.
"Oh, man! It feels good to come in here after a win and after a win like that. Really proud of these young ladies. I'm so happy for them, they deserve it. We bounced back, things did not go our way Thursday. We could have came in here feeling sorry for ourselves, but we didn't. We bounced back in a big way and showed how dominant we can be, how impressive we can be, and how deep we are. Really, really proud of the grit and determination this group showed today."
First Quarter
Shelby Hayes recorded the Owls' first basket before the Bulls quickly jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Down by five, Destiny Jackson kickstarted a 10-0 run, with Ennis and Fisher contributing along the way. Leading 16-11, Ennis drilled Rice's first three-pointer to extend the lead. A South Florida run closed the gap, but a pair of free throws from Ennis gave the Owls a 21-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The Bulls took the lead to open the second quarter, with Jazzy Owens-Barnett grabbing the lead back as the two sides traded scores early. After South Florida took a seven-point lead, Ennis and Emily Klaczek hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to 31-30. South Florida led 33-31 at the half.
Third Quarter
Jackson's layup tied the game to open the second half, with a quick 5-0 run giving the lead back to South Florida. Fisher responded with a 5-0 run of her own, with a layup and later hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 38-38. Trailing by seven, Trinity Gooden's and-one conversion, followed by an Ennis layup, cut the deficit down to two. Rice trailed 49-45 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Klaczek cut the deficit to one point with a three-pointer, but South Florida responded with a three of their own to expand the lead back to four. Maya Bokunewicz responded with another Rice three as the two sides continued to trade baskets. Down 56-55, Fisher's layup gave the Owls the lead, but free throws on the opposite end gave the lead back to the Bulls. With South Florida leading 59-57, Fisher scored six-straight points to give Rice a four-point lead with 2:48 left. After a South Florida score, Ennis' layup followed by a pair of Fisher free throws gave Rice a 67-61 lead with 1:17 remaining. After cutting the deficit to three, South Florida had one final chance to tie the game for overtime, but Fisher came through with a game-sealing block on the three-point attempt to give Rice the 67-64 win.
- With the win, Rice is now even all-time against South Florida 1-1.
- Fisher recorded her 500th career rebound.
Rice will begin a three-game road trip next Wednesday at East Carolina.
Team Stats
USF
Rice
FG%
.434
.404
3FG%
.412
.462
FT%
.917
.864
RB
35
29
TO
14
9
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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