Three Owls Named Preseason All-Conference; Rice Tabbed Third
10/9/2025 10:06:00 AM | Women's Basketball
IRVING – The Rice women's basketball team was well represented in the 2025-26 American Conference Preseason honors, with Dominique Ennis earning First Team recognition and Aniah Alexis and Victoria Flores receiving Second Team selections. Rice was picked third in the preseason coaches poll.
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
Ennis, an All-Conference Second Team selection last season, appeared in 32 games last season averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1,7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She set the school record for three-pointers in a season with 80. Ennis led the team in total points (389), three-point percentage (37%), three-pointers (80), steals (42) and steals per game (1.3).
Flores was named to the All-Conference Newcomer Team last season, where she averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Flores led the team in assists (112), assists per game (3.3), and free throws made (84). Flores had 20+ points in four games last season and five or more assists in eight games.
Alexis shined in her first collegiate season, earning a spot on the All-Conference Freshmen Team. Alexis appeared in 34 games, starting the last 14, averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She closed last season scoring 10+ points in five of the final six games. Alexis had a career high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting on the road against South Florida.
South Florida was picked as the preseason favorite, with UTSA and Rice selected second and third in the poll.
Ennis, Flores and Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the American Conference Media Day next Sunday and Monday in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 2025-26 campaign will kick off on Nov. 7, when Rice travels to the reigning Summit League champion South Dakota State.
Season tickets are $80 for general admission and can be purchased by calling 713-348-OWLS (6957) or by clicking here. Single-game tickets will be released at a later time.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
South Florida (11) 143
UTSA (1) 119
Rice (1) 113
Temple 107
Tulane 104
North Texas 95
East Carolina 82
Tulsa 72
Memphis 52
Charlotte 50
UAB 38
Wichita State 23
Florida Atlantic 16
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Dominique Ennis, Sr., G, Rice
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida*
L'or Mputu, Gr., F, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Jr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Jr., F, UTSA
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Aniah Alexis, So., G, Rice
Victoria Flores, Jr., G, Rice
Amira Mabry, Sr., F, Tulane
Kendall Sneed, So., G, Tulane
Mady Cartwright, Jr., G, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
Ennis, an All-Conference Second Team selection last season, appeared in 32 games last season averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1,7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She set the school record for three-pointers in a season with 80. Ennis led the team in total points (389), three-point percentage (37%), three-pointers (80), steals (42) and steals per game (1.3).
Flores was named to the All-Conference Newcomer Team last season, where she averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Flores led the team in assists (112), assists per game (3.3), and free throws made (84). Flores had 20+ points in four games last season and five or more assists in eight games.
Alexis shined in her first collegiate season, earning a spot on the All-Conference Freshmen Team. Alexis appeared in 34 games, starting the last 14, averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She closed last season scoring 10+ points in five of the final six games. Alexis had a career high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting on the road against South Florida.
South Florida was picked as the preseason favorite, with UTSA and Rice selected second and third in the poll.
Ennis, Flores and Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the American Conference Media Day next Sunday and Monday in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 2025-26 campaign will kick off on Nov. 7, when Rice travels to the reigning Summit League champion South Dakota State.
Season tickets are $80 for general admission and can be purchased by calling 713-348-OWLS (6957) or by clicking here. Single-game tickets will be released at a later time.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
South Florida (11) 143
UTSA (1) 119
Rice (1) 113
Temple 107
Tulane 104
North Texas 95
East Carolina 82
Tulsa 72
Memphis 52
Charlotte 50
UAB 38
Wichita State 23
Florida Atlantic 16
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Dominique Ennis, Sr., G, Rice
Carla Brito, Sr., F, South Florida*
L'or Mputu, Gr., F, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Jr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Jr., F, UTSA
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Aniah Alexis, So., G, Rice
Victoria Flores, Jr., G, Rice
Amira Mabry, Sr., F, Tulane
Kendall Sneed, So., G, Tulane
Mady Cartwright, Jr., G, Tulsa
* denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
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