Saturday, November 15
Houston, Texas
2 p.m.
Rice University
2-1,0-0American
66
vs
59
Middle Tennessee
2-2,0-0CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
Middle Tenn.
13
14
10
22
59
Rice
13
16
14
23
66
Owls Win Home Opener Over Middle Tennessee
11/15/2025 6:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team used clutch shooting down the stretch for a 66-59 win over Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon in the team's home opener. Rice (2-1) has won back-to-back games while the Blue Raiders fall to 2-2.
Aniah Alexis led the Owls with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a block, while Louann Battiston added 11 points, three assists and a rebound. Dominique Ennis added 10 points, two rebounds and a steal, while Shelby Hayes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-59 (40.7%) from the floor and 7-of-25 (28.0%) from the three-point line. The Owls added an 11-of-12 (91.7%) showing from the free throw line. Rice had 12 offensive rebounds resulting in 16 second-chance points.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm really proud of our efforts today to protect home. It always feels good to win, but you always want to protect home. Middle is an incredible team and program and they'll win a lot of basketball games. Being able to execute down the stretch and pull out the win, and protect home, I'm really proud of our toughness and togetherness to make that happen.
For the full press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
A steal and score by Victoria Flores opened the game's scoring before MTSU jumped to an early 6-2 lead. Hayes and Alexis brought the Owls within one, with an Ennis triple later tying the game 13-13 at the end of one.
Second Quarter
Ennis hit another three to open the second quarter, with the Blue Raiders eventually evening the score at 17-17. Down by two, Alexis hit a three-pointer to put the Owls up 26-25 with 2:48 left in the half. Down by one, Battiston drilled another Rice three as the Owls led 29-27 at the half.
Third Quarter
Hayes and Adams extended the Rice lead to open the third, with Flores later pushing the lead to nine points. Leading by five, Hayes and Jordin Blackmon made back-to-back shots to put the lead back to nine. Rice led 43-37 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
A Blue Raider three-pointer opened the fourth, with MTSU eventually getting within two points. Alexis and Blackmon pushed the lead to seven points, but an 8-0 run by Middle Tennessee put them ahead 51-50 with 5:40 to go. Ennis snapped the run with a pair of free throws, with Battiston following with a triple to go up by four. Following another Battiston score, MTSU got within four points with 44 seconds left, but Battiston iced the game with her third three-pointer as the Owls went on to win.
Quick Notes
Alexis secured her first career double-double.
Her 10 rebounds are a career high.
Battiston's 11 points are a career high.
Flores' four steals ties a career high.
The Owls are now 5-11 all-time against MTSU, snapping a four-game skid.
UP NEXT
Rice will have another road test Wednesday night against RV Princeton.
Aniah Alexis led the Owls with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a block, while Louann Battiston added 11 points, three assists and a rebound. Dominique Ennis added 10 points, two rebounds and a steal, while Shelby Hayes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 24-of-59 (40.7%) from the floor and 7-of-25 (28.0%) from the three-point line. The Owls added an 11-of-12 (91.7%) showing from the free throw line. Rice had 12 offensive rebounds resulting in 16 second-chance points.
"I'm really proud of our efforts today to protect home. It always feels good to win, but you always want to protect home. Middle is an incredible team and program and they'll win a lot of basketball games. Being able to execute down the stretch and pull out the win, and protect home, I'm really proud of our toughness and togetherness to make that happen.
For the full press conference, click here.
First Quarter
A steal and score by Victoria Flores opened the game's scoring before MTSU jumped to an early 6-2 lead. Hayes and Alexis brought the Owls within one, with an Ennis triple later tying the game 13-13 at the end of one.
Second Quarter
Ennis hit another three to open the second quarter, with the Blue Raiders eventually evening the score at 17-17. Down by two, Alexis hit a three-pointer to put the Owls up 26-25 with 2:48 left in the half. Down by one, Battiston drilled another Rice three as the Owls led 29-27 at the half.
Third Quarter
Hayes and Adams extended the Rice lead to open the third, with Flores later pushing the lead to nine points. Leading by five, Hayes and Jordin Blackmon made back-to-back shots to put the lead back to nine. Rice led 43-37 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
A Blue Raider three-pointer opened the fourth, with MTSU eventually getting within two points. Alexis and Blackmon pushed the lead to seven points, but an 8-0 run by Middle Tennessee put them ahead 51-50 with 5:40 to go. Ennis snapped the run with a pair of free throws, with Battiston following with a triple to go up by four. Following another Battiston score, MTSU got within four points with 44 seconds left, but Battiston iced the game with her third three-pointer as the Owls went on to win.
Quick Notes
Alexis secured her first career double-double.
Her 10 rebounds are a career high.
Battiston's 11 points are a career high.
Flores' four steals ties a career high.
The Owls are now 5-11 all-time against MTSU, snapping a four-game skid.
Rice will have another road test Wednesday night against RV Princeton.
Team Stats
MTSU
Rice
FG%
.479
.407
3FG%
.417
.280
FT%
.800
.917
RB
27
33
TO
16
9
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
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