Wednesday, February 7
Tampa, FL
6 p.m.
Rice University
13-9,7-4AAC
69
at
59
South Florida
14-10,6-5AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
8
21
20
20
69
South Fla.
17
12
15
15
59
Owls Capture Several Milestones in Win at South Florida
2/7/2024 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TAMPA – The Rice women's basketball team overcame an early deficit to sweep the season series with South Florida after a 69-59 win Wednesday night at Yuengling Center. The Owls move to 13-9 (7-4 AAC) on the season.
Jazzy Owens-Barnett led the Owls with a career-high 21 points, going 4-of-4 from three-point range, while adding a rebound and an assist. Destiny Jackson added 14 points, including her 1,000th career point, six rebounds, four assists and a steal.
The win also marked 50 career wins for Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds. She becomes the fastest coach in program history to reach the milestone, doing so in 81 games.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-51 (47.1%) from the floor and 7-of-11 (63.6%) from three-point range. The Owls added a stellar 14-of-15 (93.3%) showing from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction - Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I had no idea I was even close to [50 wins]. I'm humbled and blessed and just really grateful. Really grateful to just get to do this, to be able to be the head coach at Rice University and to get to work alongside the coaches and staff I work with. To mentor and coach these young ladies is such a blessing, and winning is just the cherry on top. I'm really fortunate and really blessed and am just enjoying every minute of this opportunity, but I had no idea I was close to this. It just goes to the players. I can put them in positions but they have to go and accomplish things on the court. I've been blessed with players that are just phenomenal and can just make things happen."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Trinity Gooden scored Rice's first basket as the two sides traded scores early. Jackson netted the next three Rice baskets, capped off by her 1,000th career point, as the Owls trailed by seven. South Florida led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Malia Fisher opened the second quarter with a score as the two sides countered each score. Trailing 22-12, Owens-Barnett's and-one conversion, followed by a three-pointer by Owens-Barnett, cut the deficit to four. Fisher and Sussy Ngulefac then connected on back-to-back layups as the Owls tied the game. After a three-pointer gave USF the lead, Owens-Barnett drilled another three to tie the game back up. Maya Bokunewicz's jumper gave Rice a two-point lead, but a USF score tied the game at 29-29 at halftime.
Third Quarter
After South Florida opened the third with a five-point lead, Emily Klaczek's layup brought the Owls within one score. After trading baskets, the Bulls held 40-35 lead until Owens-Barnett drilled her third three-pointer to cut the deficit to two points. Following a USF score, Hailey Adams' jumper in the paint ignited a 9-0 run, featuring a Bokunewicz three-pointer and Owens-Barnnett and Fisher free throws, as Rice took a 47-42 lead. The Owls led 49-44 at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
After USF opened the fourth with a score, Dominique Ennis extended the lead back to five, followed by a fourth Owens-Barnett three-pointer as Rice took a 54-46 lead. Following a South Florida three, Ennis countered with a three to put the Owls back up eight. After the Bulls cut the deficit to 59-56, Owens-Barnett hit a layup followed by another Ennis three-pointer to give Rice an eight-point lead with 4:42 remaining. Leading by six with under a minute to play, Jackson hit the dagger with 45 seconds left as the Owls won 69-59.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse for a quick two-game homestand starting Saturday night against Tulsa.
Jazzy Owens-Barnett led the Owls with a career-high 21 points, going 4-of-4 from three-point range, while adding a rebound and an assist. Destiny Jackson added 14 points, including her 1,000th career point, six rebounds, four assists and a steal.
The win also marked 50 career wins for Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds. She becomes the fastest coach in program history to reach the milestone, doing so in 81 games.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-51 (47.1%) from the floor and 7-of-11 (63.6%) from three-point range. The Owls added a stellar 14-of-15 (93.3%) showing from the free throw line.
"I had no idea I was even close to [50 wins]. I'm humbled and blessed and just really grateful. Really grateful to just get to do this, to be able to be the head coach at Rice University and to get to work alongside the coaches and staff I work with. To mentor and coach these young ladies is such a blessing, and winning is just the cherry on top. I'm really fortunate and really blessed and am just enjoying every minute of this opportunity, but I had no idea I was close to this. It just goes to the players. I can put them in positions but they have to go and accomplish things on the court. I've been blessed with players that are just phenomenal and can just make things happen."
First Quarter
Trinity Gooden scored Rice's first basket as the two sides traded scores early. Jackson netted the next three Rice baskets, capped off by her 1,000th career point, as the Owls trailed by seven. South Florida led 17-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Malia Fisher opened the second quarter with a score as the two sides countered each score. Trailing 22-12, Owens-Barnett's and-one conversion, followed by a three-pointer by Owens-Barnett, cut the deficit to four. Fisher and Sussy Ngulefac then connected on back-to-back layups as the Owls tied the game. After a three-pointer gave USF the lead, Owens-Barnett drilled another three to tie the game back up. Maya Bokunewicz's jumper gave Rice a two-point lead, but a USF score tied the game at 29-29 at halftime.
Third Quarter
After South Florida opened the third with a five-point lead, Emily Klaczek's layup brought the Owls within one score. After trading baskets, the Bulls held 40-35 lead until Owens-Barnett drilled her third three-pointer to cut the deficit to two points. Following a USF score, Hailey Adams' jumper in the paint ignited a 9-0 run, featuring a Bokunewicz three-pointer and Owens-Barnnett and Fisher free throws, as Rice took a 47-42 lead. The Owls led 49-44 at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
After USF opened the fourth with a score, Dominique Ennis extended the lead back to five, followed by a fourth Owens-Barnett three-pointer as Rice took a 54-46 lead. Following a South Florida three, Ennis countered with a three to put the Owls back up eight. After the Bulls cut the deficit to 59-56, Owens-Barnett hit a layup followed by another Ennis three-pointer to give Rice an eight-point lead with 4:42 remaining. Leading by six with under a minute to play, Jackson hit the dagger with 45 seconds left as the Owls won 69-59.
- Rice is now 2-1 all-time against South Florida.
- Rice shot a season-high 7-of-11 (63.6%) from three-point range.
- The Owls shot a season-high 14-of-15 (93.3%) from the free throw line.
- Owens-Barnett's 21 points was a career-high (previous was 17 at UAB)
- Jackson became the 25th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.
- Jackson moved into 20th all-time in scoring in program history.
- Jackson surpassed 150 career steals.
- Edmonds' 50 wins in 81 games surpasses Tina Langley's 50 wins in 91 games for the fastest mark in program history.
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse for a quick two-game homestand starting Saturday night against Tulsa.
Team Stats
Rice
USF
FG%
.471
.362
3FG%
.636
.353
FT%
.933
.750
RB
35
37
TO
15
10
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
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