Owls Win H-Town Battle Against the Cougars

Tuesday, November 11

Houston, TX

6:30 p.m.

Rice University

1-1,0-0American

Houston

2-1,0-0Big 12

Rice

Houston

Owls Win H-Town Battle Against the Cougars

11/11/2025 11:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Anthony Roberts (ar186@rice.edu)

HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team secured their first win of the season on the road against crosstown rival Houston 70-56 Tuesday night at the Fertitta Center. Rice (1-1) grabs just the fourth-ever road win against the Cougars while also handing them their first loss on the season (2-1).

Hailey Adams led the way with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Victoria Flores added 16 points on a perfect 16-16 free throw shooting, also adding four rebounds and two assists. Aniah Alexis recorded 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while Jordin Blackmon rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.

As a team, Rice shot 18-of-57 (31.6%) from the floor and 6-of-24 (25%) from three-point range. The Owls shot lights-out from the free throw line at 28-of-31 (90.3%). The Owls forced 23 Houston turnovers resulting in 27 points.

Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm just really proud of this group. I'm proud of our mental toughness and our togetherness to come in here and to get this win. I feel like there was not a moment that we had doubt, and I felt like there was not a moment that we hung our heads. There was not a moment when we felt sorry for ourselves. We just battled and we competed for 40 minutes. I'm just really, really proud of the group."

For the full press conference, click here.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
A pair of Shelby Hayes free throws opened the scoring, with Alexis' three-pointer following as the Owls jumped in front early. Adams and Hayes extended the run to 9-1 to open the game, with the Cougars starting to chip the deficit away. Blackmon later put the Owls up seven with an old-fashioned three-point play. Rice led 14-10 after one.

Second Quarter
After trading scores, Blackmon's three, followed by a pair of Adams scores ballooned the lead to 26-12 midway through the second quarter. Houston got within single digits with their own run, but Alexis drilled a three to extend the lead to 10 points. Rice led 32-27 at the half.

Third Quarter
Adams and Alexis swapped scores with the Cougars to open the third quarter, as Rice led by six. Up three, Flores' free throw, followed by a Louann Battiston three-pointer, gave the Owls a 41-33 lead. Rice led 45-38 at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter
Alexis extended the Rice lead to open the fourth, with Blackmon later drilling a three to put the Owls up 50-38. After trading scores, a UH run cut the Rice lead down to seven, but Battiston snapped the run with bucket. Rice made timely free throws the rest of the way to secure the win.

Quick Notes
Adams secured the first double-double of the season for Rice and the fourth of her career.
Flores' 16 free throws are the third most in a game in school history (most is 18 FT).
Adams tied a career high with 13 rebounds.
Battiston set a career high with four assists.
The 90.3% free throw shooting clip is the best since 92.9% (13-14) against Tulsa last season.
This is Rice's first win at Houston since 2012 and fourth in the series history.
The win is also Rice's largest margin of victory at Houston.
The Owls have won three of the last four meetings with the Cougars.

UP NEXT
Rice has its season opener on Saturday afternoon against former conference foe Middle Tennessee.