Wednesday, December 4
Houston, Texas
7 p.m.
Rice University
6-3,0-0AAC
82
vs
71
Utah Tech
4-5,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
Utah Tech
13
19
22
17
71
Rice
21
25
22
14
82
Fisher’s Return Ignites Rice in Win over Utah Tech
12/4/2024 11:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – In her highly anticipated return to the court, Malia Fisher shined in her season debut to power the Rice women's basketball team to an 82-71 win over Utah Tech Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls improve to 6-3 on the season, while Utah Tech falls to 4-5.
Fisher led all scorers with 17 points off the bench, shooting 50% from the field with three three-pointers, while adding six rebounds, two steals and an assist. Hailey Adams finished with her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three rebounds and a block. Sussy Ngulefac rounded out the double-digit scorers with another double-double, her second of the season, with 11 points and 10 rebounds, also adding three blocks and an assist.
As a team, Rice shot 33-of-69 (47.8%) from the field and 7-of-20 (35%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 9-of-12 (75%) showing from the free throw line. Rice scored 42 points in the paint and 35 points off the bench.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm really glad to be back at home and be back in front of our fans and get a win. Wins are hard to come by, and I'm grateful to get a win. I think our group has so much potential, and I think we can be really, really great. I think we showed that in spurts tonight, and we are going to continue to challenge them to show a full 40 minutes and see how special we can truly be. We're still growing as a team and trying to figure that piece out. I thought there were a lot of really good performances, in particular by [Malia and Hailey] and also by Sussy. There are definitely some good highlights and some really good stats out there; I just would have liked to have seen us just finish out the game a little bit better."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Trailblazers opened the game with a triple before Adams and Emily Klaczek got the Owls on the board. Down by two, Ngulefac scored the next three Rice baskets to take back the early lead. Up by one, Shelby Hayes and Trinity Gooden combined for a quick 6-0 run to extend the lead to seven. After a Utah Tech score, Fisher scored her first basket of the season to close the first as Rice led 21-13.
Second Quarter
Fisher and Jazzy Owens-Barnett each traded scores and assists to open the second before a quick Utah Tech run cut their deficit to seven points. Ngulefac snapped the run, with Adams and Dominique Ennis later going on a 9-0 run, extending the lead to 16 points. Victoria Flores and Jill Twiehaus traded three-pointers with the Trailblazers to close the half, as Rice led 46-32.
Third Quarter
The Trailblazers scored first in the third before Ennis got the Rice offense going again. Up by 12, Ngulefac's and-one conversion extended the Owl lead to 53-38. After Hayes' basket kept it a 15-point game, a quick run cut the lead down to seven points. Fisher snapped the run with a jumper and a three-pointer, with Gooden following with a second-chance layup as the Owls led 68-54 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Utah Tech used an 8-0 run to open the fourth to cut the deficit to 68-62 before Fisher drilled a three-pointer to snap the run. After another run cut the lead to four, Owens-Barnett and Klaczek hit back-to-back shots to go up eight. Fisher added to the run with her third triple of the game as the Owls went on to win 82-71.
Quick Notes
This was the first game Rice had two players record double-doubles since Nov. 23, 2022, against Texas Southern (Malia Fisher – 22 points/13 rebounds, Ashlee Austin 16 points/10 rebounds).
Ennis tied her career highs with seven rebounds and five assists.
Fisher tied a career high with three made three-pointers.
Flores had a career-high six assists.
Rice set season highs in points (82), rebounds (50) and assists (22).
The Owls also tied a season high with six blocks.
UP NEXT
Rice heads back on the road Saturday to face Louisiana at the Cajundome.
Fisher led all scorers with 17 points off the bench, shooting 50% from the field with three three-pointers, while adding six rebounds, two steals and an assist. Hailey Adams finished with her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three rebounds and a block. Sussy Ngulefac rounded out the double-digit scorers with another double-double, her second of the season, with 11 points and 10 rebounds, also adding three blocks and an assist.
As a team, Rice shot 33-of-69 (47.8%) from the field and 7-of-20 (35%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 9-of-12 (75%) showing from the free throw line. Rice scored 42 points in the paint and 35 points off the bench.
"I'm really glad to be back at home and be back in front of our fans and get a win. Wins are hard to come by, and I'm grateful to get a win. I think our group has so much potential, and I think we can be really, really great. I think we showed that in spurts tonight, and we are going to continue to challenge them to show a full 40 minutes and see how special we can truly be. We're still growing as a team and trying to figure that piece out. I thought there were a lot of really good performances, in particular by [Malia and Hailey] and also by Sussy. There are definitely some good highlights and some really good stats out there; I just would have liked to have seen us just finish out the game a little bit better."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
First Quarter
The Trailblazers opened the game with a triple before Adams and Emily Klaczek got the Owls on the board. Down by two, Ngulefac scored the next three Rice baskets to take back the early lead. Up by one, Shelby Hayes and Trinity Gooden combined for a quick 6-0 run to extend the lead to seven. After a Utah Tech score, Fisher scored her first basket of the season to close the first as Rice led 21-13.
Second Quarter
Fisher and Jazzy Owens-Barnett each traded scores and assists to open the second before a quick Utah Tech run cut their deficit to seven points. Ngulefac snapped the run, with Adams and Dominique Ennis later going on a 9-0 run, extending the lead to 16 points. Victoria Flores and Jill Twiehaus traded three-pointers with the Trailblazers to close the half, as Rice led 46-32.
Third Quarter
The Trailblazers scored first in the third before Ennis got the Rice offense going again. Up by 12, Ngulefac's and-one conversion extended the Owl lead to 53-38. After Hayes' basket kept it a 15-point game, a quick run cut the lead down to seven points. Fisher snapped the run with a jumper and a three-pointer, with Gooden following with a second-chance layup as the Owls led 68-54 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Utah Tech used an 8-0 run to open the fourth to cut the deficit to 68-62 before Fisher drilled a three-pointer to snap the run. After another run cut the lead to four, Owens-Barnett and Klaczek hit back-to-back shots to go up eight. Fisher added to the run with her third triple of the game as the Owls went on to win 82-71.
This was the first game Rice had two players record double-doubles since Nov. 23, 2022, against Texas Southern (Malia Fisher – 22 points/13 rebounds, Ashlee Austin 16 points/10 rebounds).
Ennis tied her career highs with seven rebounds and five assists.
Fisher tied a career high with three made three-pointers.
Flores had a career-high six assists.
Rice set season highs in points (82), rebounds (50) and assists (22).
The Owls also tied a season high with six blocks.
Rice heads back on the road Saturday to face Louisiana at the Cajundome.
Team Stats
UTTECH
Rice
FG%
.343
.478
3FG%
.289
.350
FT%
.609
.750
RB
37
50
TO
13
16
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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