Tuesday, March 11
Fort Worth, Texas
6 p.m.
Rice University
17-16,7-11AAC
67
vs
49
Temple
20-11,13-5AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
19
14
16
18
67
Temple
14
12
8
15
49
Rice Heads Back to Championship Game After Defeating Temple
3/11/2025 10:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH – The ninth-seeded Rice women's basketball team looks to defend their title tomorrow night after a 67-49 win over fourth-seeded Temple Tuesday night at Dickies Arena. Rice moves to 17-16 on the season, while Temple has its seven-game win streak snapped to fall to 20-11.
Malia Fisher led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist, while Aniah Alexis added 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist. Sussy Ngulefac recorded her 1,000th career point, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks and one steal.
As a team, Rice shot 23-of-57 (40.4%) from the field and 6-of-22 (27.3%) from three-point range. Rice added a 15-of-19 (78.9%) showing from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm just so proud of our group. The toughness, the togetherness and the composure that we had for 40 minutes tonight was incredible. A really well-balanced attack, everybody that came in contributed. Our defense was incredible. We hung our hat on defense and held them to 31%. They are a great team, but I think that just shows how great our defense was tonight."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Two quick Temple baskets opened the game before Flores got Rice on the board with a triple. Down five, Ngulefac and Alexis hit back-to-back shots to pull within one. Later down three, Flores drilled another three to even the score. Trailing 14-12, Ngulefac started a 7-0 run with Fisher's jumper and Emily Klaczek's three adding as Rice led 19-14 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Fisher opened the scoring in the second as the two sides traded baskets. Leading by five, Dominique Ennis sank a three as Rice took a 26-20 lead. Up by six, Fisher connected on back-to-back scores to extend the lead to 10 points. Rice led 33-26 at the half.
Third Quarter
Alexis and Ngulefac opened the third-quarter scoring, with Alexis following with a three-pointer to cap off a 7-0 Rice run to take a 14-point lead. After a quick Temple run cut the lead down to 10, Ngulefac had the answer with a second-chance score. Adams' jumper and Fisher's and-one conversion later extended the lead to 15 points. Rice led 49-34 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Fisher extended the Rice lead to open the fourth, with Trinity Gooden and Fisher later pushing the lead to 20 points. Adams later snapped a quick run to keep the Rice lead at 58-40. Free throws down the stretch would keep Temple in check as the Rice advanced to the championship game.
Quick Notes
Adams recorded her 25th block this season.
Ngulefac recorded her 1,000th career point.
The Owls advance to the AAC Championship title game in back-to-back seasons.
Rice has defeated Temple in back-to-back years in the AAC Semifinal games.
UP NEXT
The Owls will face the winner of two-seed North Texas and three-seed South Florida in the AAC Championship game tomorrow at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Malia Fisher led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist, while Aniah Alexis added 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist. Sussy Ngulefac recorded her 1,000th career point, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, three blocks and one steal.
As a team, Rice shot 23-of-57 (40.4%) from the field and 6-of-22 (27.3%) from three-point range. Rice added a 15-of-19 (78.9%) showing from the free throw line.
"I'm just so proud of our group. The toughness, the togetherness and the composure that we had for 40 minutes tonight was incredible. A really well-balanced attack, everybody that came in contributed. Our defense was incredible. We hung our hat on defense and held them to 31%. They are a great team, but I think that just shows how great our defense was tonight."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
First Quarter
Two quick Temple baskets opened the game before Flores got Rice on the board with a triple. Down five, Ngulefac and Alexis hit back-to-back shots to pull within one. Later down three, Flores drilled another three to even the score. Trailing 14-12, Ngulefac started a 7-0 run with Fisher's jumper and Emily Klaczek's three adding as Rice led 19-14 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Fisher opened the scoring in the second as the two sides traded baskets. Leading by five, Dominique Ennis sank a three as Rice took a 26-20 lead. Up by six, Fisher connected on back-to-back scores to extend the lead to 10 points. Rice led 33-26 at the half.
Third Quarter
Alexis and Ngulefac opened the third-quarter scoring, with Alexis following with a three-pointer to cap off a 7-0 Rice run to take a 14-point lead. After a quick Temple run cut the lead down to 10, Ngulefac had the answer with a second-chance score. Adams' jumper and Fisher's and-one conversion later extended the lead to 15 points. Rice led 49-34 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Fisher extended the Rice lead to open the fourth, with Trinity Gooden and Fisher later pushing the lead to 20 points. Adams later snapped a quick run to keep the Rice lead at 58-40. Free throws down the stretch would keep Temple in check as the Rice advanced to the championship game.
Quick Notes
Adams recorded her 25th block this season.
Ngulefac recorded her 1,000th career point.
The Owls advance to the AAC Championship title game in back-to-back seasons.
Rice has defeated Temple in back-to-back years in the AAC Semifinal games.
The Owls will face the winner of two-seed North Texas and three-seed South Florida in the AAC Championship game tomorrow at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Team Stats
Rice
Temple
FG%
.404
.310
3FG%
.273
.000
FT%
.789
.765
RB
39
37
TO
17
19
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
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