Tuesday, February 18
Houston, Texas
7 p.m.
Rice University
13-13,6-8AAC
72
vs
39
Florida Atlantic
10-17,2-12AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Fla. Atlantic
10
6
13
10
39
Rice
14
16
19
23
72
Rice’s Defense Smothers Florida Atlantic in Win
2/18/2025 10:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team used stellar defense to bounce back in the win column in a commanding way with a 72-39 win over Florida Atlantic Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. The win evens Rice's record at 13-13 (6-8 AAC) while Florida Atlantic falls to 10-17 (2-12 AAC).
Dominique Ennis led the Owls with yet another double-double, this time with 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assists and a steal. Victoria Flores added another 13 points with six assists, two rebounds and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 30-of-63 (47.6%) from the floor and 10-of-24 (41.7%) from three-point range. Rice was 2-of-4 (50%) from the free throw line. The home Owls held Florida Atlantic to 10-of-55 (18.2%) shooting, the lowest mark by a conference opponent and second-lowest by any opponent for Rice in school history.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"We needed that one. We needed that one in that fashion. The way we started the game wasn't exactly the way we wanted to get going. We challenged them in the first media [timeout], and they responded. After that, we kind of took off. Our execution got better, our defense got better, our communication got better. We could have very well just stayed along the path we were, but they responded and they answered. It was a lot of fun. It's fun to see us playing like that and I hope that this win gives us confidence and propels us forward for the next one."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
A 4-0 run by the visitors opened the game before Ennis got Rice on the board. Trailing 8-2, Ennis drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three. Down five, Sussy Ngulefac opened a 9-0 run, with Malia Fisher and Ngulefac adding scores before Emily Klaczek's three capped the run as Rice led 14-10 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Trinity Gooden opened the scoring in the second as the two sides traded scores early. Leading by four, Klaczek hit another three, with Shelby Hayes following with a second-chance score, as Rice grabbed a 23-14 lead. Leading by seven, Ngulefac opened another run, this time 7-0 capped off by a Flores three, as Rice led 30-16 at the half.
Third Quarter
After the visitors cut the deficit to 10 points, a quick run by Ngulefac, Flores and Hailey Adams extended the lead to 16. Following a pair of free throws, Aniah Alexis' layup and Ennis' triple pushed the lead further, with Adams closing another Rice run to give the home Owls a 43-22 lead. After Ennis traded threes with Florida Atlantic, Ennis later hit another in the closing seconds as Rice took a 49-29 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Alexis and Adams opened the fourth with a pair of baskets before Florida Atlantic got back on the board. Leading by 20, an Adams jumper kickstarted a 10-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back Flores and Ennis triples as Rice took a 63-33 lead. Flores later drilled another three-pointer to extend the Rice lead. Maya Bokunewicz and Klaczek closed the game's scoring as Rice went on to win.
Quick Notes
Ennis has now recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games.
Ennis had a career-high 11 rebounds.
Florida Atlantic had season lows in points (39), field goal percentage (18.2%), made field goals (10) and assists (5).
Rice's defense allowed season lows in points scored (39), field goal percentage (18.2%) and made field goals (10).
UP NEXT
Rice continues the homestand Saturday evening against UTSA for the team's Senior Night.
Dominique Ennis led the Owls with yet another double-double, this time with 17 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assists and a steal. Victoria Flores added another 13 points with six assists, two rebounds and a steal.
As a team, Rice shot 30-of-63 (47.6%) from the floor and 10-of-24 (41.7%) from three-point range. Rice was 2-of-4 (50%) from the free throw line. The home Owls held Florida Atlantic to 10-of-55 (18.2%) shooting, the lowest mark by a conference opponent and second-lowest by any opponent for Rice in school history.
"We needed that one. We needed that one in that fashion. The way we started the game wasn't exactly the way we wanted to get going. We challenged them in the first media [timeout], and they responded. After that, we kind of took off. Our execution got better, our defense got better, our communication got better. We could have very well just stayed along the path we were, but they responded and they answered. It was a lot of fun. It's fun to see us playing like that and I hope that this win gives us confidence and propels us forward for the next one."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
First Quarter
A 4-0 run by the visitors opened the game before Ennis got Rice on the board. Trailing 8-2, Ennis drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to three. Down five, Sussy Ngulefac opened a 9-0 run, with Malia Fisher and Ngulefac adding scores before Emily Klaczek's three capped the run as Rice led 14-10 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Trinity Gooden opened the scoring in the second as the two sides traded scores early. Leading by four, Klaczek hit another three, with Shelby Hayes following with a second-chance score, as Rice grabbed a 23-14 lead. Leading by seven, Ngulefac opened another run, this time 7-0 capped off by a Flores three, as Rice led 30-16 at the half.
Third Quarter
After the visitors cut the deficit to 10 points, a quick run by Ngulefac, Flores and Hailey Adams extended the lead to 16. Following a pair of free throws, Aniah Alexis' layup and Ennis' triple pushed the lead further, with Adams closing another Rice run to give the home Owls a 43-22 lead. After Ennis traded threes with Florida Atlantic, Ennis later hit another in the closing seconds as Rice took a 49-29 lead at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Alexis and Adams opened the fourth with a pair of baskets before Florida Atlantic got back on the board. Leading by 20, an Adams jumper kickstarted a 10-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back Flores and Ennis triples as Rice took a 63-33 lead. Flores later drilled another three-pointer to extend the Rice lead. Maya Bokunewicz and Klaczek closed the game's scoring as Rice went on to win.
Quick Notes
Ennis has now recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games.
Ennis had a career-high 11 rebounds.
Florida Atlantic had season lows in points (39), field goal percentage (18.2%), made field goals (10) and assists (5).
Rice's defense allowed season lows in points scored (39), field goal percentage (18.2%) and made field goals (10).
Rice continues the homestand Saturday evening against UTSA for the team's Senior Night.
Team Stats
FAU
Rice
FG%
.182
.476
3FG%
.176
.417
FT%
.696
.500
RB
34
48
TO
10
11
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09