Wednesday, February 14
Houston, TX
7 p.m.
Rice University
15-9,9-4AAC
75
vs
57
East Carolina
14-9,7-5AAC
1
2
3
4
F
East Carolina
13
6
23
15
57
Rice
16
14
25
20
75
Stellar Defense Dismantles East Carolina
2/14/2024 10:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team grabbed a late first-quarter lead and never looked back, sweeping the season series with East Carolina 75-57 Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. With the win, Rice moves to 15-9 (9-4 AAC) on the season.
Malia Fisher led Rice with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while adding eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Dominique Ennis added 13 points, four steals, a rebound and an assist, while Jazzy Owens-Barnett netted 12 points and five assists. Emily Klaczek rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-52 (46.2%) and 6-of-14 (42.9%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 21-of-25 (84%) showing from the free throw line. Rice out-rebounded ECU 37-27 and scored 50 bench points compared to four for ECU. Rice limited ECU to 22-of-54 (41%) shooting from the field and 2-of-13 (15%) from three-point range. The Owls forced 16 Pirate turnovers, scoring 22 points off those turnovers.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I just keep saying that, I'm just so impressed with how deep this team is. Different people step up every night and find ways to help us score and help us win. They are all ready when their name is called. I'm just so proud of the group, it was a total team effort. I really believe that. They don't care who gets the recognition individually as long as we get the team win. That was proven tonight by our balanced attack that we have."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Fatou Samb opened the scoring, followed by a Ennis jumper as the two sides traded scores early. After a Pirate layup gave ECU a 9-8 lead, Ennis drilled a three-pointer to give the Owls back the lead. Rice led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Sussy Ngulefac's layup opened the second quarter, with Owens-Barnett and Fisher following with baskets to give Rice a 22-13 lead. After back-to-back Ngulefac and Fisher scores made it a 10-0 run to open the second, East Carolina responded with a run to cut the deficit to seven. Hailey Adams and Ennis closed out the half with scores, giving the Owls a 30-19 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
After trading mostly free throws to open the third, Fisher hit a three-pointer to take a 37-21 lead, forcing an ECU timeout. After swapping baskets, Ennis connected on back-to-back three-pointers to give Rice a 19-point lead. Following an ECU run, Klaczek's three-pointer extended the lead to 50-34. Up by 10, Klaczek drilled another three-pointer to close the third with Rice leading 55-42.
Fourth Quarter
Following an ECU score, Fisher's and-one conversion started a 7-0 run as the Owls grabbed an 18-point lead. The Pirates cut the deficit to 14, but Fisher and Owens-Barnett answered to stop the run. Rice used mostly free throws to close out the game, winning 75-57.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls will head back on the road on Saturday to face UAB.
Malia Fisher led Rice with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while adding eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Dominique Ennis added 13 points, four steals, a rebound and an assist, while Jazzy Owens-Barnett netted 12 points and five assists. Emily Klaczek rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-52 (46.2%) and 6-of-14 (42.9%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 21-of-25 (84%) showing from the free throw line. Rice out-rebounded ECU 37-27 and scored 50 bench points compared to four for ECU. Rice limited ECU to 22-of-54 (41%) shooting from the field and 2-of-13 (15%) from three-point range. The Owls forced 16 Pirate turnovers, scoring 22 points off those turnovers.
"I just keep saying that, I'm just so impressed with how deep this team is. Different people step up every night and find ways to help us score and help us win. They are all ready when their name is called. I'm just so proud of the group, it was a total team effort. I really believe that. They don't care who gets the recognition individually as long as we get the team win. That was proven tonight by our balanced attack that we have."
First Quarter
Fatou Samb opened the scoring, followed by a Ennis jumper as the two sides traded scores early. After a Pirate layup gave ECU a 9-8 lead, Ennis drilled a three-pointer to give the Owls back the lead. Rice led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Sussy Ngulefac's layup opened the second quarter, with Owens-Barnett and Fisher following with baskets to give Rice a 22-13 lead. After back-to-back Ngulefac and Fisher scores made it a 10-0 run to open the second, East Carolina responded with a run to cut the deficit to seven. Hailey Adams and Ennis closed out the half with scores, giving the Owls a 30-19 lead at halftime.
Third Quarter
After trading mostly free throws to open the third, Fisher hit a three-pointer to take a 37-21 lead, forcing an ECU timeout. After swapping baskets, Ennis connected on back-to-back three-pointers to give Rice a 19-point lead. Following an ECU run, Klaczek's three-pointer extended the lead to 50-34. Up by 10, Klaczek drilled another three-pointer to close the third with Rice leading 55-42.
Fourth Quarter
Following an ECU score, Fisher's and-one conversion started a 7-0 run as the Owls grabbed an 18-point lead. The Pirates cut the deficit to 14, but Fisher and Owens-Barnett answered to stop the run. Rice used mostly free throws to close out the game, winning 75-57.
- Rice now leads the all-time series 7-6.
- Owens-Barnett tied a career-high with five assists.
The Owls will head back on the road on Saturday to face UAB.
Team Stats
ECU
Rice
FG%
.407
.462
3FG%
.154
.429
FT%
.846
.840
RB
27
37
TO
16
18
STL
8
11
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
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