Wednesday, January 1
New Orleans, LA
2 p.m.
Rice University
8-6,1-1AAC
72
at
64
Tulane
8-5,1-1AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
15
5
19
33
72
Tulane
14
14
18
18
64
Owls Erase Double-Digit Deficit to Open New Year with Win
1/1/2025 8:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – After a Green Wave three-pointer gave the Owls a 10-point deficit with just over eight minutes remaining, the Rice women's basketball team rallied behind clutch shooting down the stretch to earn a 72-64 comeback win on the road over Tulane. The win improves Rice's record to 8-6 (1-1 AAC), while Tulane falls to 8-5 (1-1 AAC).
Malia Fisher led the way with a season-high 21 points while adding eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Dominique Ennis also had a season-high 18 points with six rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Victoria Flores rounded out the double-digit Rice scorers with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the floor and 9-of-25 (36.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 15-of-24 (62.5%) performance from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Road wins are so tough in the conference. I'm really, really proud of our team's effort and toughness. We dug a hole, but we rallied together and found a way to get a win on the road in conference play. I thought just our resiliency was incredible. Our fourth quarter performance was really, really tough and really special, and exactly what we needed."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Ennis opened the game's scoring, with Fisher later countering a Tulane three with one of her own as Rice took an early lead. After Sussy Ngulefac and Flores pushed the lead to five, the Green Wave responded with an 11-0 run before Flores' three snapped the run. Fisher and Trinity Gooden had the final baskets of the first quarter as Rice took a 15-14 lead.
Second Quarter
Tulane opened the second with back-to-back scores before Fisher's free throw got the Owls back on the board. Trailing by four, Maya Bokunewicz drilled a three as Rice got within one. A 7-0 Green Wave run closed the second as Tulane led 28-20 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Ennis hit a three-pointer to open the third quarter with the two sides trading scores early. Down by nine, Flores and Ennis hit back-to-back shots to get Rice within five points. A quick run gave Tulane its largest lead at 40-29 before Ennis snapped the run. Within nine, Fisher's three cut the deficit to six, with Tulane extending the lead to go up 46-39 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
After trading baskets, a Tulane three gave the Green Wave a 51-41 lead with 8:23 remaining in the game. An Adams free throw sparked a quick run with Ngulefac and Fisher adding to get Rice within five. Following a Green Wave three, Flores and Ennis hit back-to-back threes to make it a 54-52 game with 5:43 remaining. Tulane extended the lead with yet another three-pointer, but Ennis had the quick counter with a triple to keep the deficit at two points. Trailing by three, Ennis drilled her third three of the quarter to tie the game, with Adams giving the lead back to Rice with three minutes remaining. Tied once again, Fisher hit the go-ahead layup and later doubled the Rice lead to four points with 1:05 to go as the Owls completed the comeback for the 72-64 win.
Quick Notes
Fisher set season-highs with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Fisher also tied season-highs with four assists and two blocks.
Fisher moved into 15th all-time at Rice in scoring with 1,081 points.
Ennis had a season-high 18 points.
Ennis moved into ninth all-time at Rice in made three's with 124.
Today's win marked the first double-digit come-from-behind win since Rice overcame a 10-point deficit at South Florida on Feb. 7, 2024 for a 69-59 win.
Rice's 33 fourth-quarter points are the third most in a quarter in Rice history.
The Owls closed the game making 10 of their last 12 field goals.
UP NEXT
Rice will be back in action next Wednesday at UTSA.
Malia Fisher led the way with a season-high 21 points while adding eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Dominique Ennis also had a season-high 18 points with six rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Victoria Flores rounded out the double-digit Rice scorers with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the floor and 9-of-25 (36.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 15-of-24 (62.5%) performance from the free throw line.
"Road wins are so tough in the conference. I'm really, really proud of our team's effort and toughness. We dug a hole, but we rallied together and found a way to get a win on the road in conference play. I thought just our resiliency was incredible. Our fourth quarter performance was really, really tough and really special, and exactly what we needed."
First Quarter
Ennis opened the game's scoring, with Fisher later countering a Tulane three with one of her own as Rice took an early lead. After Sussy Ngulefac and Flores pushed the lead to five, the Green Wave responded with an 11-0 run before Flores' three snapped the run. Fisher and Trinity Gooden had the final baskets of the first quarter as Rice took a 15-14 lead.
Second Quarter
Tulane opened the second with back-to-back scores before Fisher's free throw got the Owls back on the board. Trailing by four, Maya Bokunewicz drilled a three as Rice got within one. A 7-0 Green Wave run closed the second as Tulane led 28-20 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Ennis hit a three-pointer to open the third quarter with the two sides trading scores early. Down by nine, Flores and Ennis hit back-to-back shots to get Rice within five points. A quick run gave Tulane its largest lead at 40-29 before Ennis snapped the run. Within nine, Fisher's three cut the deficit to six, with Tulane extending the lead to go up 46-39 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
After trading baskets, a Tulane three gave the Green Wave a 51-41 lead with 8:23 remaining in the game. An Adams free throw sparked a quick run with Ngulefac and Fisher adding to get Rice within five. Following a Green Wave three, Flores and Ennis hit back-to-back threes to make it a 54-52 game with 5:43 remaining. Tulane extended the lead with yet another three-pointer, but Ennis had the quick counter with a triple to keep the deficit at two points. Trailing by three, Ennis drilled her third three of the quarter to tie the game, with Adams giving the lead back to Rice with three minutes remaining. Tied once again, Fisher hit the go-ahead layup and later doubled the Rice lead to four points with 1:05 to go as the Owls completed the comeback for the 72-64 win.
Quick Notes
Fisher set season-highs with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Fisher also tied season-highs with four assists and two blocks.
Fisher moved into 15th all-time at Rice in scoring with 1,081 points.
Ennis had a season-high 18 points.
Ennis moved into ninth all-time at Rice in made three's with 124.
Today's win marked the first double-digit come-from-behind win since Rice overcame a 10-point deficit at South Florida on Feb. 7, 2024 for a 69-59 win.
Rice's 33 fourth-quarter points are the third most in a quarter in Rice history.
The Owls closed the game making 10 of their last 12 field goals.
Rice will be back in action next Wednesday at UTSA.
Team Stats
Rice
Tulane
FG%
.421
.333
3FG%
.360
.217
FT%
.625
.810
RB
46
31
TO
23
17
STL
6
13
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09