Wednesday, January 31
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
12-8,6-3AAC
69
vs
60
SMU
10-11,4-6AAC
1
2
3
4
F
SMU
15
19
16
10
60
Rice
17
13
18
21
69
Ngulefac Powers Rice to Season Sweep of SMU
1/31/2024 11:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to sweep the season series against SMU 69-60 Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls move to 12-8 (6-3 AAC) on the season.
Sussy Ngulefac led the Owls with 19 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the floor while adding seven rebounds, a block and an assist. Dominique Ennis added 13 points, five assists, three steals, and two rebounds, while Fatou Samb rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and three rebounds.
As a team, Rice shot 25-of-57 (43.9%) from the floor and 4-of-16 (25.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 15-of-22 (68.2%) showing from the free throw line. Rice held SMU to 39.3% shooting from the floor and 13.3% from three.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Man, it feels good to get back into the win column. This team has been battling, competing and fighting despite some adversities. I'm just really, really proud of them for the way they fought today and the way they didn't hang their heads. Everybody stepped up. We talked about visualizing three things that everyone can do that will help us win before the game started and I believe that the team bought into that. We had a dominant performance from Sussy, a coming-out party that definitely helped us. Really happy for these young ladies, they deserve it, to get back in the win column. Like I said, they've been competing really hard."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Samb scored the game's opening points with Destiny Jackson later adding a layup as the two sides traded scores early. Down by four, Samb traded scores with the Mustangs until back-to-back baskets by Hailey Adams tied the game at 13-13. Leading by one, Ennis drilled a three-pointer as time expired to put the Owls up 17-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Leading 19-18, Ngulefac extended the Owls lead with a layup. After the Mustangs tied things at 24-24, Ngulefac struck again with a layup to give the lead back to Rice. A 6-0 run gave SMU a 30-26 lead, but Jackson snapped the run with a pair of free throws. Ngulefac got the Owls within two with 28 seconds left in the half, but SMU added a basket to go into halftime leading 34-30.
Third Quarter
After trading scores, Ennis started a 6-0 run, giving Rice a 41-38 lead. Following a SMU score, Ngulefac's and-one conversion gave the Owls a four-point lead. After another SMU score, back-to-back Ngulefac layups gave Rice a 48-42 lead. SMU closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 50-48 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Ennis' three-pointer gave the Owls the lead to open the fourth before a Mustang free throw tied the game at 51-51. Maya Bokunewicz answered with another Rice three-pointer, with Ngulefac hitting back-to-back layups again to take a 58-51 lead with 7:20 remaining. After SMU cut the deficit to four at 61-57 with 3:20 remaining, Adams hit back-to-back scores followed by a Emily Klaczek three-pointer to seal the 69-60 win for the Owls.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls will be on the road Saturday afternoon at Florida Atlantic
Sussy Ngulefac led the Owls with 19 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the floor while adding seven rebounds, a block and an assist. Dominique Ennis added 13 points, five assists, three steals, and two rebounds, while Fatou Samb rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and three rebounds.
As a team, Rice shot 25-of-57 (43.9%) from the floor and 4-of-16 (25.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 15-of-22 (68.2%) showing from the free throw line. Rice held SMU to 39.3% shooting from the floor and 13.3% from three.
"Man, it feels good to get back into the win column. This team has been battling, competing and fighting despite some adversities. I'm just really, really proud of them for the way they fought today and the way they didn't hang their heads. Everybody stepped up. We talked about visualizing three things that everyone can do that will help us win before the game started and I believe that the team bought into that. We had a dominant performance from Sussy, a coming-out party that definitely helped us. Really happy for these young ladies, they deserve it, to get back in the win column. Like I said, they've been competing really hard."
First Quarter
Samb scored the game's opening points with Destiny Jackson later adding a layup as the two sides traded scores early. Down by four, Samb traded scores with the Mustangs until back-to-back baskets by Hailey Adams tied the game at 13-13. Leading by one, Ennis drilled a three-pointer as time expired to put the Owls up 17-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Leading 19-18, Ngulefac extended the Owls lead with a layup. After the Mustangs tied things at 24-24, Ngulefac struck again with a layup to give the lead back to Rice. A 6-0 run gave SMU a 30-26 lead, but Jackson snapped the run with a pair of free throws. Ngulefac got the Owls within two with 28 seconds left in the half, but SMU added a basket to go into halftime leading 34-30.
Third Quarter
After trading scores, Ennis started a 6-0 run, giving Rice a 41-38 lead. Following a SMU score, Ngulefac's and-one conversion gave the Owls a four-point lead. After another SMU score, back-to-back Ngulefac layups gave Rice a 48-42 lead. SMU closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 50-48 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Ennis' three-pointer gave the Owls the lead to open the fourth before a Mustang free throw tied the game at 51-51. Maya Bokunewicz answered with another Rice three-pointer, with Ngulefac hitting back-to-back layups again to take a 58-51 lead with 7:20 remaining. After SMU cut the deficit to four at 61-57 with 3:20 remaining, Adams hit back-to-back scores followed by a Emily Klaczek three-pointer to seal the 69-60 win for the Owls.
- With the win, the Owls now lead the all-time series 37-36.
- The Owls had a season-high 21 assists.
- Ngulefac had a season-high 19 points.
- Ennis tied a career-high with five assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls will be on the road Saturday afternoon at Florida Atlantic
Team Stats
SMU
Rice
FG%
.393
.439
3FG%
.133
.250
FT%
.714
.682
RB
36
39
TO
14
12
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballC
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