Monday, November 4
Houston, Texas
7 p.m.
Rice University
0-1,0-0AAC
63
vs
65
RV/RV South Dakota State
1-0,0-0Summit League
1
2
3
4
F
South Dakota St.
14
10
15
26
65
Rice
17
14
21
11
63
Owls Drop Heartbreaker to South Dakota State in Season Opener
11/4/2024 10:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking loss to South Dakota State in the 2024-25 season debut Monday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. Leading by 13 to open the final quarter, the Owls ultimately fell short to the two-time reigning Summit League champions.
The Owls were led by junior Dominique Ennis, who scored 16 points while adding two rebounds. Sussy Ngulefac added another 12 points with seven rounds and a block and steal, while Shelby Hayes finished with 11 points, five rebounds and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 26-of-64 (40.6%) and 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 7-of-9 (77.8%) showing from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"This one hurts. I thought we played really, really well for three quarters. I thought we dominated on both ends for three quarters. Unfortunately for us, the game of basketball is four quarters, and we didn't put together that last 10 minutes like the way we needed to. Again, this is a great team. They are going to win a lot of games and probably their conference again. I think they are in the top 10 in Division I wins, and for a reason. I could make excuses and say that we are not at full strength, but we showcased who we are and who we can be for three quarters. We have to find a way to put it all together and finish that last 10 minutes the right way."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Trinity Gooden scored the first points of the season, with Ennis following with another basket to put Rice up early. After the Jackrabbits took a one-point lead, Ennis drilled a three-pointer to give the lead back to Rice. The Owls led 17-14 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Up by three, Ennis scored back-to-back layups to extend the Rice lead to seven points. Following a South Dakota State score, Aniah Alexis netted her first career points to put the Owls up 27-20. Rice led 31-24 at the half.
Third Quarter
Ngulefac opened the third with a layup and later scored another with Jazzy Owens-Barnett following to put Rice up 37-26. Hayes then went to work in the paint, with back-to-back Rice scores to keep Rice's lead in double figures. Victoria Flores closed the third with a three-pointer as the Owls led 52-39.
Fourth Quarter
After SDSU cut the deficit to nine, Ennis scored a layup to put Rice back up 11 points with 7:42 to play. The Jackrabbits hit back-to-back shots, but Ngulefac's and-one put Rice back up 10 with 5:26 left. South Dakota State erased the deficit with 1:44 left, holding a 62-61 lead. Ngulefac gave the Owls back the lead with 21 seconds left, but a three-pointer by the Jackrabbits gave them a 65-63 lead with eight seconds left. Ennis' game-winning three would fall short at the buzzer.
Quick Notes
Ngulefac recorded her 50th career block.
UP NEXT
Rice will continue the team's five-game homestand to open the season on Thursday night against the preseason CAA favorite, North Carolina A&T.
The Owls were led by junior Dominique Ennis, who scored 16 points while adding two rebounds. Sussy Ngulefac added another 12 points with seven rounds and a block and steal, while Shelby Hayes finished with 11 points, five rebounds and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 26-of-64 (40.6%) and 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 7-of-9 (77.8%) showing from the free throw line.
"This one hurts. I thought we played really, really well for three quarters. I thought we dominated on both ends for three quarters. Unfortunately for us, the game of basketball is four quarters, and we didn't put together that last 10 minutes like the way we needed to. Again, this is a great team. They are going to win a lot of games and probably their conference again. I think they are in the top 10 in Division I wins, and for a reason. I could make excuses and say that we are not at full strength, but we showcased who we are and who we can be for three quarters. We have to find a way to put it all together and finish that last 10 minutes the right way."
First Quarter
Trinity Gooden scored the first points of the season, with Ennis following with another basket to put Rice up early. After the Jackrabbits took a one-point lead, Ennis drilled a three-pointer to give the lead back to Rice. The Owls led 17-14 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Up by three, Ennis scored back-to-back layups to extend the Rice lead to seven points. Following a South Dakota State score, Aniah Alexis netted her first career points to put the Owls up 27-20. Rice led 31-24 at the half.
Third Quarter
Ngulefac opened the third with a layup and later scored another with Jazzy Owens-Barnett following to put Rice up 37-26. Hayes then went to work in the paint, with back-to-back Rice scores to keep Rice's lead in double figures. Victoria Flores closed the third with a three-pointer as the Owls led 52-39.
Fourth Quarter
After SDSU cut the deficit to nine, Ennis scored a layup to put Rice back up 11 points with 7:42 to play. The Jackrabbits hit back-to-back shots, but Ngulefac's and-one put Rice back up 10 with 5:26 left. South Dakota State erased the deficit with 1:44 left, holding a 62-61 lead. Ngulefac gave the Owls back the lead with 21 seconds left, but a three-pointer by the Jackrabbits gave them a 65-63 lead with eight seconds left. Ennis' game-winning three would fall short at the buzzer.
Ngulefac recorded her 50th career block.
Rice will continue the team's five-game homestand to open the season on Thursday night against the preseason CAA favorite, North Carolina A&T.
Team Stats
SDSU
Rice
FG%
.443
.406
3FG%
.313
.267
FT%
.600
.778
RB
36
41
TO
11
13
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G
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