Saturday, January 25
Charlotte, NC
2 p.m.
Rice University
11-9,4-4AAC
84
at
60
Charlotte
6-13,1-7AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
15
25
22
22
84
Charlotte
13
17
15
15
60
Owls Offense Erupts in Win at Charlotte
1/25/2025 6:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE – The Rice women's basketball team had one of the team's best shooting nights of the season en route to an 84-60 road win against Charlotte Saturday afternoon at Halton Arena. With the win, Rice moves to 11-9 (4-4 AAC) on the season while Charlotte drops to 6-13 (1-7 AAC).
Dominique Ennis led the way with a season-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including a 6-of-8 showing from three, while adding eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Victoria Flores added 14 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal, while Malia Fisher finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. Sussy Ngulefac netted 12 points, four rebounds and a block, while Shelby Hayes rounded out the Rice double-digit scorers with 10 points, two rebounds and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 33-of-60 (55.0%) from the floor and 12-of-25 (48.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 6-of-10 (60.0%) showing from the free throw line. Rice forced 16 Charlotte turnovers, scoring 25 points off those turnovers.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Winning on the road is always incredible and the way that we won it was even more incredible. I thought we played an incredible game as a whole team. I think everybody came in and contributed and did something to help us win, and we needed this one in a big way. Five in double figures and several that had a lot of other things that they did well in the game. It was exactly what we need at the exact time."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The 49ers opened the game's scoring before Ngulefac got Rice on the board. Down by two, Ennis sparked a quick run as the Owls took a 7-3 lead. After Hayes' turnaround jumper gave Rice a five-point lead, a quick run by Charlotte tied the game. Maya Bokunewicz gave Rice a 15-13 lead with a last-second shot to close the quarter.
Second Quarter
Fisher and Ngulefac got the offense going in the second to extend the Rice lead to six. Following a 49er score, Flores' and-one conversion, followed by a pair of free throws off a technical, set up an eight-point possession capped off by Bokunewicz's three, as Rice took a 27-15 lead. Leading by eight, Ennis drilled a three with Charlotte quickly responding with one of its own. Fisher had the fast counter with her own triple to push the lead to double digits. Another 49er run cut the deficit to six, but Fisher's layup, followed by Flores' three, pushed the lead to 11 points. Rice led 40-30 at the half.
Third Quarter
Another Ennis three-pointer started the third quarter, with Charlotte responding with a 6-0 run to make it a 43-36 Rice lead. A 5-0 Ennis run, featuring her fourth triple, extended the Rice lead to 12 points. Leading by 10, Flores drilled a three to extend the Rice lead. With the lead 54-43, Bokunewicz's jumper, followed by another Flores triple, extended the Rice lead to 16 points. After a 49er score, Ennis hit her fourth three at the horn to give Rice a 62-45 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Hayes opened the fourth-quarter scoring, with Ennis following with yet another triple as Rice opened up a 22-point lead. With the lead 19, Ennis sank her sixth three of the game and followed that with a layup to put the Owls up 74-50. After a couple of scores by Charlotte, Ngulefac's layup, paired with an Emily Klaczek three, gave Rice a 26-point lead. Hayed closed out the scoring for Rice as the Owls went on to win 84-60.
Quick Notes
Ennis had a season-high 24 points.
She set a career-high with eight rebounds.
She also tied a career-high with six three-pointers.
Fisher moved into 12th all-time in scoring at Rice.
Bokunewicz had a season-high seven points.
The Owls tied a season-high with 22 assists and 12 three-pointers and three-point percentage (48%).
Today's win marked Rice's first win at Charlotte since 2018.
UP NEXT
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse Wednesday night to face Tulsa.
Dominique Ennis led the way with a season-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including a 6-of-8 showing from three, while adding eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Victoria Flores added 14 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal, while Malia Fisher finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. Sussy Ngulefac netted 12 points, four rebounds and a block, while Shelby Hayes rounded out the Rice double-digit scorers with 10 points, two rebounds and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 33-of-60 (55.0%) from the floor and 12-of-25 (48.0%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 6-of-10 (60.0%) showing from the free throw line. Rice forced 16 Charlotte turnovers, scoring 25 points off those turnovers.
"Winning on the road is always incredible and the way that we won it was even more incredible. I thought we played an incredible game as a whole team. I think everybody came in and contributed and did something to help us win, and we needed this one in a big way. Five in double figures and several that had a lot of other things that they did well in the game. It was exactly what we need at the exact time."
First Quarter
The 49ers opened the game's scoring before Ngulefac got Rice on the board. Down by two, Ennis sparked a quick run as the Owls took a 7-3 lead. After Hayes' turnaround jumper gave Rice a five-point lead, a quick run by Charlotte tied the game. Maya Bokunewicz gave Rice a 15-13 lead with a last-second shot to close the quarter.
Second Quarter
Fisher and Ngulefac got the offense going in the second to extend the Rice lead to six. Following a 49er score, Flores' and-one conversion, followed by a pair of free throws off a technical, set up an eight-point possession capped off by Bokunewicz's three, as Rice took a 27-15 lead. Leading by eight, Ennis drilled a three with Charlotte quickly responding with one of its own. Fisher had the fast counter with her own triple to push the lead to double digits. Another 49er run cut the deficit to six, but Fisher's layup, followed by Flores' three, pushed the lead to 11 points. Rice led 40-30 at the half.
Third Quarter
Another Ennis three-pointer started the third quarter, with Charlotte responding with a 6-0 run to make it a 43-36 Rice lead. A 5-0 Ennis run, featuring her fourth triple, extended the Rice lead to 12 points. Leading by 10, Flores drilled a three to extend the Rice lead. With the lead 54-43, Bokunewicz's jumper, followed by another Flores triple, extended the Rice lead to 16 points. After a 49er score, Ennis hit her fourth three at the horn to give Rice a 62-45 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Hayes opened the fourth-quarter scoring, with Ennis following with yet another triple as Rice opened up a 22-point lead. With the lead 19, Ennis sank her sixth three of the game and followed that with a layup to put the Owls up 74-50. After a couple of scores by Charlotte, Ngulefac's layup, paired with an Emily Klaczek three, gave Rice a 26-point lead. Hayed closed out the scoring for Rice as the Owls went on to win 84-60.
Quick Notes
Ennis had a season-high 24 points.
She set a career-high with eight rebounds.
She also tied a career-high with six three-pointers.
Fisher moved into 12th all-time in scoring at Rice.
Bokunewicz had a season-high seven points.
The Owls tied a season-high with 22 assists and 12 three-pointers and three-point percentage (48%).
Today's win marked Rice's first win at Charlotte since 2018.
The Owls return to Tudor Fieldhouse Wednesday night to face Tulsa.
Team Stats
Rice
CLT
FG%
.550
.423
3FG%
.480
.250
FT%
.600
.737
RB
30
30
TO
11
16
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
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