Wednesday, February 12
Tampa, FL
6 p.m.
Rice University
12-12,5-7AAC
77
at
82
South Florida
17-8,10-2AAC
1
2
3
4
OT 1
OT 2
OT 3
F
Rice
10
19
21
11
4
5
7
77
South Fla.
10
13
22
16
4
5
12
82
Rice Drops Heartbreaker at USF in Triple OT
2/12/2025 9:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TAMPA – The Rice women's basketball team fell in a heartbreaking loss at South Florida 82-77 in triple overtime Wednesday night at the Yuengling Center. The Owls fall to 12-12 (5-7 AAC), while the Bulls improve to 17-8 (10-2 AAC).
Freshman Aniah Alexis led the way with a career-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding six rebounds and four assists. Dominique Ennis added 17 points, sinking five three-pointers, with seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Malia Fisher rounded out the Rice double-digit scorers with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 30-of-63 (47.6%) from the floor and 9-of-18 (50%) from three-point range. Rice was 8-of-14 (57.1%) from free throw line.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Alexis scored the game's first two baskets before South Florida was able to tie the game. Alexis later broke the tie with a three-pointer as the two sides traded scores. Alexis scored her ninth point of the quarter to put Rice up a pair, but South Florida tied the game at 10-10 to close the first.
Second Quarter
Shelby Hayes put the Owls in front before the Bulls took the lead off a three-pointer. Ennis had the quick answer with a three of her own. Fisher and Alexis traded scores with the Bulls before Sussy Ngulefac gave Rice a three-point lead. Emily Klaczek followed with a triple before USF responded with one of its own. Victoria Flores answered with another Rice three as the Owls led 29-23 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Fisher and Alexis opened the third-quarter scoring as the Owls took a 10-point lead. Ngulefac and Alexis later traded scores as Rice maintained a 37-28 advantage. Leading by six, Flores drilled a three to extend the lead. Ennis later drilled back-to-back triples as Rice took an 11-point lead. The Owls led 50-45 at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter
South Florida scored the first basket of the fourth quarter with Ennis responding with yet another triple. Leading by four, Alexis sank a shot off the glass to extend the lead. With the Owls up four, Flores scored a layup off the glass with the shot clock expiring as Rice took a 59-53 lead with 3:56 left. Leading by one, Ennis sank a jumper to put Rice up three with 19 seconds left. USF hit a buzzer-beating three to send the game to overtime.
Overtime
Ngulefac put Rice ahead with a free throw, with Fisher later extending the lead with a layup. After back-to-back scores gave South Florida a one-point lead with 47 seconds to go, Ngulefac tied the game with a free throw. The Rice defense held on the final shot by the Bulls, with the two sides tied at 65-65.
Second Overtime
South Florida took an early lead with a free throw, with Fisher responding with a basket to put Rice up one. Down by two, Alexis tied the game with 39 seconds remaining with a layup. After getting a stop, Ngulefac's last-second layup just rolled off the rim as time expired to keep the game tied at 70-70 at the end of the double-overtime period.
Third Overtime
South Florida struck first again to take back the lead, with Fisher having the answer once again to tie the game. After a quick 5-0 run gave USF a 77-72 lead with 1:33 remaining, Ennis drilled a three to make it a two-point game. Following a stop, Hailey Adams sank two free throws to tie the game with 36 seconds remaining. South Florida quickly responded with a three, later followed by free throws, to take a triple-overtime win.
UP NEXT
Rice continues the road swing at Wichita State on Saturday.
Freshman Aniah Alexis led the way with a career-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding six rebounds and four assists. Dominique Ennis added 17 points, sinking five three-pointers, with seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Malia Fisher rounded out the Rice double-digit scorers with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block.
As a team, Rice shot 30-of-63 (47.6%) from the floor and 9-of-18 (50%) from three-point range. Rice was 8-of-14 (57.1%) from free throw line.
First Quarter
Alexis scored the game's first two baskets before South Florida was able to tie the game. Alexis later broke the tie with a three-pointer as the two sides traded scores. Alexis scored her ninth point of the quarter to put Rice up a pair, but South Florida tied the game at 10-10 to close the first.
Second Quarter
Shelby Hayes put the Owls in front before the Bulls took the lead off a three-pointer. Ennis had the quick answer with a three of her own. Fisher and Alexis traded scores with the Bulls before Sussy Ngulefac gave Rice a three-point lead. Emily Klaczek followed with a triple before USF responded with one of its own. Victoria Flores answered with another Rice three as the Owls led 29-23 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Fisher and Alexis opened the third-quarter scoring as the Owls took a 10-point lead. Ngulefac and Alexis later traded scores as Rice maintained a 37-28 advantage. Leading by six, Flores drilled a three to extend the lead. Ennis later drilled back-to-back triples as Rice took an 11-point lead. The Owls led 50-45 at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter
South Florida scored the first basket of the fourth quarter with Ennis responding with yet another triple. Leading by four, Alexis sank a shot off the glass to extend the lead. With the Owls up four, Flores scored a layup off the glass with the shot clock expiring as Rice took a 59-53 lead with 3:56 left. Leading by one, Ennis sank a jumper to put Rice up three with 19 seconds left. USF hit a buzzer-beating three to send the game to overtime.
Overtime
Ngulefac put Rice ahead with a free throw, with Fisher later extending the lead with a layup. After back-to-back scores gave South Florida a one-point lead with 47 seconds to go, Ngulefac tied the game with a free throw. The Rice defense held on the final shot by the Bulls, with the two sides tied at 65-65.
Second Overtime
South Florida took an early lead with a free throw, with Fisher responding with a basket to put Rice up one. Down by two, Alexis tied the game with 39 seconds remaining with a layup. After getting a stop, Ngulefac's last-second layup just rolled off the rim as time expired to keep the game tied at 70-70 at the end of the double-overtime period.
Third Overtime
South Florida struck first again to take back the lead, with Fisher having the answer once again to tie the game. After a quick 5-0 run gave USF a 77-72 lead with 1:33 remaining, Ennis drilled a three to make it a two-point game. Following a stop, Hailey Adams sank two free throws to tie the game with 36 seconds remaining. South Florida quickly responded with a three, later followed by free throws, to take a triple-overtime win.
Rice continues the road swing at Wichita State on Saturday.
Team Stats
Rice
USF
FG%
.476
.415
3FG%
.500
.250
FT%
.571
.563
RB
44
43
TO
19
9
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09