Wednesday, January 17
Greenville, NC
10 a.m.
Rice University
10-6,4-1AAC
80
at
67
East Carolina
9-7,2-3AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
22
19
20
19
80
East Carolina
13
18
16
20
67
Hot Shooting Ignites Owls on Road Against ECU
1/17/2024 12:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE – The Rice women's basketball team opened their three-game road trip in style with an 80-67 victory over East Carolina Wednesday morning. The Owls earned back-to-back wins over the top two AAC preseason teams, defeating preseason favorite South Florida last Sunday, improving to 10-6 (4-1 AAC) on the season.
Dominique Ennis led the way for Rice with 19 points, including five three-pointers, with three rebounds, a steal and an assist. Shelby Hayes tied a career-high with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Destiny Jackson finished with 13 points, seven assists, two steals and two rebounds. Malia Fisher recorded her third double-double in four games with 10 points and 10 rebounds while adding three assists and two blocks.
As a team, Rice shot a scorching 30-of-60 (50%) from the floor and 9-of-26 (35%) from three-point range. The Owls added an 11-of-13 (85%) showing from the free throw line. The Owls forced 23 ECU turnovers, scoring 23 points off those turnovers.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"To be on the road for an 11 o'clock tip, 10 o'clock our body times, all the things, I'm just so proud of the toughness we showed and togetherness we showed. There were thousands of people in here, kids screaming against us, and all that mattered was what we had. We were enough together and I'm so proud of this group."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
After the Pirates scored the game's first basket, Hayes got the Owls on the board to even the score early. Trailing 7-2, Ennis drilled a three-pointer, followed by a Hayes layup, to even the score. With East Carolina up by four points, Fisher's three-pointer ignited an 8-0 run, capped off by an Ennis three-pointer, as Rice took a 15-11 lead. Following an ECU score to get within two, Rice closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 22-13 lead.
Second Quarter
Jackson and Ennis connected on back-to-back scores to give Rice a 13-point lead to open the second quarter. After the Pirates got within 10, Klaczek and Maya Bokunewicz scored the next six points, capped off by a Klaczek three-pointer to put Rice up 32-16. After Fatou Samb's layup kept Rice's lead at 16 points, an 13-2 East Carolina run made it a five-point game with 46 seconds till halftime. Hayes' layup, followed by a Bokunewicz three-point as time expired, gave the Owls a 43-33 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
A steal and score for Fisher opened the third quarter, with Hayes and Trinity Gooden following to put the Owls up 47-31. After two quick ECU scores, Ennis hit another three-pointer to put Rice back up by 15 points. Leading by 13, Klaczek drilled another Rice three, giving Rice a 55-39 advantage. Jackson's layup closed the third quarter as Rice led 61-47.
Fourth Quarter
A 7-0 ECU run cut the deficit to 61-54, but Ennis responded with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double digits. After the Pirates got within five, Jackson's layup, followed by Fisher's and-one, kickstarted a 10-0 run, capped by a fifth Ennis three and Hayes free throws to put Rice up 74-59. Hayes, Fisher and Jackson closed out the game as Rice took an 80-67 victory.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls will continue their three-game road trip Saturday afternoon at Tulane.
Dominique Ennis led the way for Rice with 19 points, including five three-pointers, with three rebounds, a steal and an assist. Shelby Hayes tied a career-high with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Destiny Jackson finished with 13 points, seven assists, two steals and two rebounds. Malia Fisher recorded her third double-double in four games with 10 points and 10 rebounds while adding three assists and two blocks.
As a team, Rice shot a scorching 30-of-60 (50%) from the floor and 9-of-26 (35%) from three-point range. The Owls added an 11-of-13 (85%) showing from the free throw line. The Owls forced 23 ECU turnovers, scoring 23 points off those turnovers.
"To be on the road for an 11 o'clock tip, 10 o'clock our body times, all the things, I'm just so proud of the toughness we showed and togetherness we showed. There were thousands of people in here, kids screaming against us, and all that mattered was what we had. We were enough together and I'm so proud of this group."
First Quarter
After the Pirates scored the game's first basket, Hayes got the Owls on the board to even the score early. Trailing 7-2, Ennis drilled a three-pointer, followed by a Hayes layup, to even the score. With East Carolina up by four points, Fisher's three-pointer ignited an 8-0 run, capped off by an Ennis three-pointer, as Rice took a 15-11 lead. Following an ECU score to get within two, Rice closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 22-13 lead.
Second Quarter
Jackson and Ennis connected on back-to-back scores to give Rice a 13-point lead to open the second quarter. After the Pirates got within 10, Klaczek and Maya Bokunewicz scored the next six points, capped off by a Klaczek three-pointer to put Rice up 32-16. After Fatou Samb's layup kept Rice's lead at 16 points, an 13-2 East Carolina run made it a five-point game with 46 seconds till halftime. Hayes' layup, followed by a Bokunewicz three-point as time expired, gave the Owls a 43-33 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
A steal and score for Fisher opened the third quarter, with Hayes and Trinity Gooden following to put the Owls up 47-31. After two quick ECU scores, Ennis hit another three-pointer to put Rice back up by 15 points. Leading by 13, Klaczek drilled another Rice three, giving Rice a 55-39 advantage. Jackson's layup closed the third quarter as Rice led 61-47.
Fourth Quarter
A 7-0 ECU run cut the deficit to 61-54, but Ennis responded with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double digits. After the Pirates got within five, Jackson's layup, followed by Fisher's and-one, kickstarted a 10-0 run, capped by a fifth Ennis three and Hayes free throws to put Rice up 74-59. Hayes, Fisher and Jackson closed out the game as Rice took an 80-67 victory.
- With the win, Rice evens the all-time series at 6-6.
- Hayes' 18 points ties a career high.
The Owls will continue their three-game road trip Saturday afternoon at Tulane.
Team Stats
Rice
ECU
FG%
.500
.448
3FG%
.346
.200
FT%
.846
.800
RB
28
33
TO
17
23
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
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