Tuesday, March 12
8 p.m.
Rice University
18-14,9-9AAC
60
vs
57
Temple
20-12,13-5AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
17
16
15
12
60
Temple
15
14
14
14
57
Championship Bound; Rice Wins Battle of Owls in AAC Semifinals
3/13/2024 12:14:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH – The Rice women's basketball team is headed to the AAC Championship game after defeating three-seeded Temple 60-57 in the semifinal game at Dickies Arena Tuesday night. Rice advanced to face ninth-seeded East Carolina in the finals. The Owls move to 18-14 (9-9) on the season.
After Temple grabbed a one-point lead with 3:29 remaining, Malia Fisher's jumper, followed by an Emily Klaczek three-pointer, helped Rice take a 57-53 advantage. The Rice defense held the rest of the way, securing the win for Rice.
Fisher led the Owls with 17 points, five rebounds and a steal, while Destiny Jackson added 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks. Sussy Ngulefac rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
As a team, Rice shot 25-of-55 (45.5%) from the floor and 3-of-11 (27.3%) from three-point range. Rice was 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the free throw line. Rice forced 22 Temple turnovers, scoring 18 points off those turnovers.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
" Our team is just showing how tough we really are. We had some adversity late in February that I don't think showcased exactly who we were as a basketball team. We've been on a little bit of a revenge tour here since we've been here. UAB got us at their place. We lost at home to North Texas and Temple. So, we had a little bit more fuel to our fire, a little bit behind all of the games that we were facing, to make sure that we came out on top and we came out on top at the right time. Our toughness has really prevailed, our togetherness has really shown, we have hung our hats on defense and just really, really proud of the efforts. Could have hung our heads a couple times tonight, but we found a way to get one more stop, to get one more rebound, to come out on the winning end, so really, really proud of the group."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Temple scored the game's first basket before Ngulefac responded as both sides traded scores early. After Ngulefac and Fisher put Rice up four, a quick run gave Temple back the lead. Down four, Hailey Adams kickstarted a 9-0 run, with Jackson and Fisher also contributing, as Rice took a five-point lead. Rice led 17-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Jazzy Owens-Barnett's pull-up jumper opened the quarter's scoring, with Temple cutting the deficit to one before Ngulefac and Maya Bokunewic extended the lead to five. After Temple tied the game 25-25, Fisher scored back-to-back baskets to regain the lead. After Jackson's layup put Rice up six, Temple added to free throws to cut the deficit to 33-29 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Following a Temple basket, Jackson drilled a three-pointer, followed by Ngulefac's and-one conversion, giving Rice an eight-point lead. Up by 10, Klaczek hit another Rice three to cap off an 11-0 Rice run. The two sides traded scores until Temple cut the deficit to five, but Fisher was there to extend the lead to seven. Rice led 48-43 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Temple opened the final frame by cutting the deficit to one, but Jackson and Owens-Barnett found an answer for the Temple run. After a pair of free throws gave Temple a 53-52 lead with 3:29 remaining, Fisher's jumper followed by a Klaczek three handed Rice a 57-53 lead with 2:02 left. Temple cut the deficit in half with a minute left, with Jackson later laying home a layup with 17 seconds left. Temple got within two, but Fisher sank a free throw with under two seconds left, with Temple's three at the buzzer missing, as Rice went on to win 60-57,
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
Rice will face East Carolina tomorrow night in the AAC Championship game on ESPNU. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SEND-OFF
Fans are encouraged to join the Rice Owls Pep Band and Cheerleaders in sending off the women's basketball team to the AAC Championship game! Meet at AC Hotel (101 W Fifth St., Fort Worth, TX, 76102) by 3:55 p.m.
Join us at the Rice Owls Championship Pep Rally in the American Hoops Village right outside of Dickies Arena. Watch the Rice Owls Pep Band and Cheerleaders perform at 5:30 p.m. before you cheer your Owls on to victory!
After Temple grabbed a one-point lead with 3:29 remaining, Malia Fisher's jumper, followed by an Emily Klaczek three-pointer, helped Rice take a 57-53 advantage. The Rice defense held the rest of the way, securing the win for Rice.
Fisher led the Owls with 17 points, five rebounds and a steal, while Destiny Jackson added 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks. Sussy Ngulefac rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
As a team, Rice shot 25-of-55 (45.5%) from the floor and 3-of-11 (27.3%) from three-point range. Rice was 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the free throw line. Rice forced 22 Temple turnovers, scoring 18 points off those turnovers.
" Our team is just showing how tough we really are. We had some adversity late in February that I don't think showcased exactly who we were as a basketball team. We've been on a little bit of a revenge tour here since we've been here. UAB got us at their place. We lost at home to North Texas and Temple. So, we had a little bit more fuel to our fire, a little bit behind all of the games that we were facing, to make sure that we came out on top and we came out on top at the right time. Our toughness has really prevailed, our togetherness has really shown, we have hung our hats on defense and just really, really proud of the efforts. Could have hung our heads a couple times tonight, but we found a way to get one more stop, to get one more rebound, to come out on the winning end, so really, really proud of the group."
First Quarter
Temple scored the game's first basket before Ngulefac responded as both sides traded scores early. After Ngulefac and Fisher put Rice up four, a quick run gave Temple back the lead. Down four, Hailey Adams kickstarted a 9-0 run, with Jackson and Fisher also contributing, as Rice took a five-point lead. Rice led 17-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Jazzy Owens-Barnett's pull-up jumper opened the quarter's scoring, with Temple cutting the deficit to one before Ngulefac and Maya Bokunewic extended the lead to five. After Temple tied the game 25-25, Fisher scored back-to-back baskets to regain the lead. After Jackson's layup put Rice up six, Temple added to free throws to cut the deficit to 33-29 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Following a Temple basket, Jackson drilled a three-pointer, followed by Ngulefac's and-one conversion, giving Rice an eight-point lead. Up by 10, Klaczek hit another Rice three to cap off an 11-0 Rice run. The two sides traded scores until Temple cut the deficit to five, but Fisher was there to extend the lead to seven. Rice led 48-43 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Temple opened the final frame by cutting the deficit to one, but Jackson and Owens-Barnett found an answer for the Temple run. After a pair of free throws gave Temple a 53-52 lead with 3:29 remaining, Fisher's jumper followed by a Klaczek three handed Rice a 57-53 lead with 2:02 left. Temple cut the deficit in half with a minute left, with Jackson later laying home a layup with 17 seconds left. Temple got within two, but Fisher sank a free throw with under two seconds left, with Temple's three at the buzzer missing, as Rice went on to win 60-57,
- With the win, the all-time series is now tied 1-1.
- Edmonds now has the most wins in a head coach's first three seasons in program history with 55 wins.
Rice will face East Carolina tomorrow night in the AAC Championship game on ESPNU. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SEND-OFF
Fans are encouraged to join the Rice Owls Pep Band and Cheerleaders in sending off the women's basketball team to the AAC Championship game! Meet at AC Hotel (101 W Fifth St., Fort Worth, TX, 76102) by 3:55 p.m.
Join us at the Rice Owls Championship Pep Rally in the American Hoops Village right outside of Dickies Arena. Watch the Rice Owls Pep Band and Cheerleaders perform at 5:30 p.m. before you cheer your Owls on to victory!
Team Stats
Rice
Temple
FG%
.455
.411
3FG%
.273
.125
FT%
.583
.769
RB
27
38
TO
16
22
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's Basketball
G
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