Saturday, March 2
Houston, TX
2 p.m.
Rice University
15-13,9-8AAC
54
vs
63
North Texas
22-7,12-5AAC
1
2
3
4
F
North Texas
16
18
8
21
63
Rice
16
18
10
10
54
Owls Fall on Senior Day to North Texas
3/2/2024 4:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team led with five minutes remaining, but a North Texas run gave the Mean Green a 63-54 win over the Owls Saturday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls honored Destiny Jackson as part of the Senior Day ceremony. Rice falls to 15-13 (9-8 AAC).
Sussy Ngulefac led the Owls with 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Malia Fisher added 12 points, two rebounds and a steal while Emily Klaczek rounded out the double-digit scorers with her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Rice shot 22-of-70 (31.4%) from the floor and 3-of-30 (10%) from three-point range. Rice was 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the free throw line.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Hailey Adams scored the game's first points off a steal. Following five straight UNT points, Fisher's second-chance jumper made it a one-point game. Down 12-8, Ngulefac netted the next four points to tie the game, and after North Texas regained the lead, Fisher was there to tie things back up. Fisher's jumper closed the first with the score tied at 16-16.
Second Quarter
After trading scores, a pair of Dominique Ennis free throws, followed by a Ngulefac layup, gave Rice a four-point lead. Jazzy Owens-Barnett later gave Rice a 26-20 advantage, but a quick run by the Mean Green tied the game back up. Down by three, Maya Bokunewicz drilled a three-pointer as the two sides went into halftime tied at 34-34.
Third Quarter
North Texas was able to grab a 39-36 lead to open the third, but Ngulefac had the answer to tie the game back up. Klaczek's triple gave Rice a 44-40 lead, but North Texas added a basket to close the third quarter with Rice up 44-42.
Fourth Quarter
Both sides traded scores early until Ngulefac's layup gave Rice a 50-46 lead with 5:33 to go. A 9-0 response from the Mean Green would hand them a five-point lead. Adams snapped the run with a layup, but UNT would continue the run, ultimately closing the game on a 17-4 run to take a 63-54 win.
TEAM NOTES
UP NEXT
The Owls will conclude the regular season next Tuesday at UTSA.
Sussy Ngulefac led the Owls with 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Malia Fisher added 12 points, two rebounds and a steal while Emily Klaczek rounded out the double-digit scorers with her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Rice shot 22-of-70 (31.4%) from the floor and 3-of-30 (10%) from three-point range. Rice was 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the free throw line.
First Quarter
Hailey Adams scored the game's first points off a steal. Following five straight UNT points, Fisher's second-chance jumper made it a one-point game. Down 12-8, Ngulefac netted the next four points to tie the game, and after North Texas regained the lead, Fisher was there to tie things back up. Fisher's jumper closed the first with the score tied at 16-16.
Second Quarter
After trading scores, a pair of Dominique Ennis free throws, followed by a Ngulefac layup, gave Rice a four-point lead. Jazzy Owens-Barnett later gave Rice a 26-20 advantage, but a quick run by the Mean Green tied the game back up. Down by three, Maya Bokunewicz drilled a three-pointer as the two sides went into halftime tied at 34-34.
Third Quarter
North Texas was able to grab a 39-36 lead to open the third, but Ngulefac had the answer to tie the game back up. Klaczek's triple gave Rice a 44-40 lead, but North Texas added a basket to close the third quarter with Rice up 44-42.
Fourth Quarter
Both sides traded scores early until Ngulefac's layup gave Rice a 50-46 lead with 5:33 to go. A 9-0 response from the Mean Green would hand them a five-point lead. Adams snapped the run with a layup, but UNT would continue the run, ultimately closing the game on a 17-4 run to take a 63-54 win.
- With the loss, Rice now leads the series 15-9.
- Klaczek finished with a career-high 10 rebounds.
- Bokunewicz hit her 100th career three-pointer.
The Owls will conclude the regular season next Tuesday at UTSA.
Team Stats
UNT
Rice
FG%
.581
.314
3FG%
.500
.100
FT%
.500
.875
RB
33
36
TO
19
13
STL
4
14
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG
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