Sunday, December 29
Houston, Texas
12 p.m.
Rice University
7-6,0-1AAC
64
vs
74
South Florida
8-6,1-0AAC
1
2
3
4
F
South Fla.
19
17
14
24
74
Rice
22
15
19
8
64
Fourth Quarter Woes Sink Rice Against USF
12/29/2024 2:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start to the fourth quarter as South Florida rallied for a 74-64 win Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse in the team's AAC opener. With the loss, Rice falls to 7-6 (0-1 AAC).
Victoria Flores led the Owls with a career-high 22 points while adding three assists, two rebounds and two steals. Dominique Ennis added another 13 points with two steals and a rebound.
As a team, Rice shot 23-of-52 (44.2%) from the field and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three-point range. Rice was 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I thought we played a tremendous three quarters of basketball. Unfortunately, the game of basketball is four quarters, and they punched us in the mouth in the fourth quarter and we just didn't respond the way we had in the first three. They're very talented, and they played a very rigorous non-conference schedule, they came out swinging in the fourth quarter, making sure they won this first one. We let one slip by at home. We got to find a way to put together four quarters."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
USF opened the game's scoring before Malia Fisher got the Owls on the board. Down by eight, Flores hit her first three of the game, with Hailey Adams and Fisher later adding scores to bring Rice within four. With Rice trailing by six, Ennis kickstarted an 11-0 run capped off by a Flores three to put Rice up 22-17. The Owls led 22-19 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
The Bulls regained the lead before Trinity Gooden's and-one put the Owls back in front. Emily Klaczek and Flores added a pair of three's as the two sides traded scores midway through the second. After Ennis' three gave Rice a four-point lead, South Florida brought the deficit to one at 37-36 at the half.
Third Quarter
Ennis opened the scoring in the third as the two sides traded baskets early. Leading by two, back-to-back three-pointers by Flores and Adams pushed the lead to eight, forcing a South Florida timeout. Ennis and Ngulefac kept the Rice lead in tact to close the third, with the Owls leading 56-50.
Fourth Quarter
A 13-0 run by South Florida opened the fourth quarter, as the Bulls took a 63-56 lead. A pair of Flores free throws snapped the run, with USF answering with a layup to go up seven. An Ennis three cut the deficit to four, but South Florida was able to hold off a late rally for the win.
Quick Notes
Flores scored a career-high 22 points.
Adams set a career high with eight assists.
UP NEXT
The Owls will head on the road to take on Tulane on New Year's Day.
Victoria Flores led the Owls with a career-high 22 points while adding three assists, two rebounds and two steals. Dominique Ennis added another 13 points with two steals and a rebound.
As a team, Rice shot 23-of-52 (44.2%) from the field and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three-point range. Rice was 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the free throw line.
"I thought we played a tremendous three quarters of basketball. Unfortunately, the game of basketball is four quarters, and they punched us in the mouth in the fourth quarter and we just didn't respond the way we had in the first three. They're very talented, and they played a very rigorous non-conference schedule, they came out swinging in the fourth quarter, making sure they won this first one. We let one slip by at home. We got to find a way to put together four quarters."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
First Quarter
USF opened the game's scoring before Malia Fisher got the Owls on the board. Down by eight, Flores hit her first three of the game, with Hailey Adams and Fisher later adding scores to bring Rice within four. With Rice trailing by six, Ennis kickstarted an 11-0 run capped off by a Flores three to put Rice up 22-17. The Owls led 22-19 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
The Bulls regained the lead before Trinity Gooden's and-one put the Owls back in front. Emily Klaczek and Flores added a pair of three's as the two sides traded scores midway through the second. After Ennis' three gave Rice a four-point lead, South Florida brought the deficit to one at 37-36 at the half.
Third Quarter
Ennis opened the scoring in the third as the two sides traded baskets early. Leading by two, back-to-back three-pointers by Flores and Adams pushed the lead to eight, forcing a South Florida timeout. Ennis and Ngulefac kept the Rice lead in tact to close the third, with the Owls leading 56-50.
Fourth Quarter
A 13-0 run by South Florida opened the fourth quarter, as the Bulls took a 63-56 lead. A pair of Flores free throws snapped the run, with USF answering with a layup to go up seven. An Ennis three cut the deficit to four, but South Florida was able to hold off a late rally for the win.
Quick Notes
Flores scored a career-high 22 points.
Adams set a career high with eight assists.
The Owls will head on the road to take on Tulane on New Year's Day.
Team Stats
USF
Rice
FG%
.518
.442
3FG%
.417
.429
FT%
.786
.692
RB
28
30
TO
12
19
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09