Friday, November 29
Cancun, Mexico
5:30 p.m.
Rice University
5-3,0-0AAC
79
vs
57
Vermont
4-5,0-0America East
1
2
3
4
F
Vermont
21
10
12
14
57
Rice
16
21
26
16
79
Hot Shooting Ignites Rice Past Vermont
11/29/2024 9:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CANCUN – The Rice women's basketball team had the team's best shooting night of the season en route to a 79-57 win over Vermont in the team's final game of the Cancun Challenge Friday afternoon. The Owls move to 5-3 on the season, while Vermont, a WNIT Fab Four team from last season, moves to 4-5.
Victoria Flores led the Owls off the bench with 18 points, including four three-pointers, while adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Emily Klaczek added 17 points, also finishing with four three-pointers, while adding two rebounds, two steals and an assist. Dominique Ennis rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 29-of-59 (49.2%) from the field and 12-of-25 (48.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 9-of-10 (90%) showing from the free throw line. All three shooting performances were season highs. The Owls scored 21 points off of 17 Vermont turnovers and out-scored the Catamounts 31-7 from the bench.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I've known all season that we were capable of hitting the three at a very high volume and just been waiting for it to happen. For us to be able to come out here tonight after what happened last night and have the focus to put the ball in the hole, probably when we needed it the most, I was really impressed by that. It's good to see the ball go through the net from long distance, and hopefully, that gives us some confidence moving forward."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Emily Klaczek and Hailey Adams opened the game with counters for each Vermont basket as the Owls trailed 5-4 early. Down by five, Klaczek's three-pointer, followed by an Adams basket, tied the game up. Still trailing, Adams' and-one conversion brought the Owls within three. Vermont led 21-16 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
After the Catamounts built their lead to seven points to open the second, back-to-back layups from Trinity Gooden and Sussy Ngulefac cut the deficit to three. Another Klaczek triple, followed by a pair of Victoria Flores free throws, capped off a 9-0 run to give the Owls a 27-25 lead. Tied again, Flores and Ennis hit back-to-back threes to take a six-point lead. Rice led 37-31 at the half.
Third Quarter
Vermont began the third with an and-one conversion before the Owls responded with layups from Ngulefac and Jazzy Owens-Barnett. Ennis and Maya Bokunewicz added a pair of three-pointers before Owens-Barnett and Ngulefac added another pair of scores. Klaczek's three soon after capped off a 16-0 Rice run to take a 53-34 lead. After the Catamounts snapped the run, Flores and Bokunewicz drilled two more threes. Rice led 63-43 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
The Catamounts started the scoring in the fourth, but the three-pointer parade continued for the Owls with Flores, Klaczek and Ennis all connecting from deep as the Owls took a 72-47 lead. Klaczek and Flores continued to make baskets as the Owls took their biggest lead at 28 points, eventually claiming victory to split the trip at the Cancun Challenge.
Quick Notes
Rice embarked on a 16-0 scoring run in the third quarter.
The Owls set season highs in all three shooting areas (floor, three, free throw).
Rice also had season highs in points (79).
UP NEXT
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse next Wednesday against Utah Tech.
Victoria Flores led the Owls off the bench with 18 points, including four three-pointers, while adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Emily Klaczek added 17 points, also finishing with four three-pointers, while adding two rebounds, two steals and an assist. Dominique Ennis rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 29-of-59 (49.2%) from the field and 12-of-25 (48.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 9-of-10 (90%) showing from the free throw line. All three shooting performances were season highs. The Owls scored 21 points off of 17 Vermont turnovers and out-scored the Catamounts 31-7 from the bench.
"I've known all season that we were capable of hitting the three at a very high volume and just been waiting for it to happen. For us to be able to come out here tonight after what happened last night and have the focus to put the ball in the hole, probably when we needed it the most, I was really impressed by that. It's good to see the ball go through the net from long distance, and hopefully, that gives us some confidence moving forward."
First Quarter
Emily Klaczek and Hailey Adams opened the game with counters for each Vermont basket as the Owls trailed 5-4 early. Down by five, Klaczek's three-pointer, followed by an Adams basket, tied the game up. Still trailing, Adams' and-one conversion brought the Owls within three. Vermont led 21-16 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
After the Catamounts built their lead to seven points to open the second, back-to-back layups from Trinity Gooden and Sussy Ngulefac cut the deficit to three. Another Klaczek triple, followed by a pair of Victoria Flores free throws, capped off a 9-0 run to give the Owls a 27-25 lead. Tied again, Flores and Ennis hit back-to-back threes to take a six-point lead. Rice led 37-31 at the half.
Third Quarter
Vermont began the third with an and-one conversion before the Owls responded with layups from Ngulefac and Jazzy Owens-Barnett. Ennis and Maya Bokunewicz added a pair of three-pointers before Owens-Barnett and Ngulefac added another pair of scores. Klaczek's three soon after capped off a 16-0 Rice run to take a 53-34 lead. After the Catamounts snapped the run, Flores and Bokunewicz drilled two more threes. Rice led 63-43 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
The Catamounts started the scoring in the fourth, but the three-pointer parade continued for the Owls with Flores, Klaczek and Ennis all connecting from deep as the Owls took a 72-47 lead. Klaczek and Flores continued to make baskets as the Owls took their biggest lead at 28 points, eventually claiming victory to split the trip at the Cancun Challenge.
Rice embarked on a 16-0 scoring run in the third quarter.
The Owls set season highs in all three shooting areas (floor, three, free throw).
Rice also had season highs in points (79).
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse next Wednesday against Utah Tech.
Team Stats
UVM
Rice
FG%
.417
.492
3FG%
.333
.480
FT%
.600
.900
RB
25
36
TO
17
14
STL
7
10
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
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