Wednesday, March 12
Fort Worth, Texas
6 p.m.
Rice University
17-17,7-11AAC
62
vs
69
South Florida
23-10,13-4AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
12
14
16
20
62
South Fla.
18
19
14
18
69
Owls Fall to South Florida in AAC Title Game
3/12/2025 10:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH – The ninth-seeded Rice women's basketball team's run through Fort Worth ended in the AAC Championship game after a 69-62 defeat to third-seeded South Florida Wednesday night at Dickies Arena.
Sussy Ngulefac led the Owls with 19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, three steals and an assist, while Malia Fisher added 17 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal. Dominique Ennis finished with 14 points, three rebounds, one steal and one block.
As a team, Rice shot 27-of-62 (43.5%) and 2-of-16 (12.5%) from three-point range. The Owls were 6-of-8 (75%) from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"That's a tough one. Emotions are obviously very high, but we unfortunately didn't get off to the start that we needed to get off to in the championship game. [We] Played a tremendous second half to get back in the ball game, but unfortunately, we dug ourselves a little bit too much of a hole in the first half and didn't dictate like we should. Hats off to South Florida and Jose [Fernandez]. He's an incredible coach, and they are very talented. They are again a great team, hats off to them."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
South Florida grabbed the game's first basket before Ngulefac had the counter with a layup. Down by eight, back-to-back Ngulefac scores brought the Owls within four points. After Hailey Adams cut the Rice deficit to two points, another quick run extended the Bull lead to eight. Rice trailed 18-12 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Ennis opened the scoring before USF pushed its lead back out to eight. Fisher snapped the run but the Bulls responded by taking a double-digit lead. Fisher and Ngulefac countered several South Florida baskets, but the Bulls still led 37-26 at the half.
Third Quarter
Ennis opened the scoring before South Florida countered to push its lead to 15 points. Still down the same amount, Ngulefac and Victoria Flores hit back-to-back shots to get within 11 points. After a Bulls score, Fisher hit a pair of baskets as the Owls trailed 51-42 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Alexis got the offense started in the fourth, with free throws later bringing the Owls within five. A quick run gave the Bulls a 10-point lead, with Ennis hitting a three to get within seven. Adams and Fisher later cut the deficit to five, but time would ultimately run out for the Owls and South Florida held on to win.
Quick Notes
Fisher reached the top 10 in all-time scoring.
Fisher is now ninth all-time in made field goals.
She also recorded her 500th made field goal.
Sussy Ngulefac led the Owls with 19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, three steals and an assist, while Malia Fisher added 17 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal. Dominique Ennis finished with 14 points, three rebounds, one steal and one block.
As a team, Rice shot 27-of-62 (43.5%) and 2-of-16 (12.5%) from three-point range. The Owls were 6-of-8 (75%) from the free throw line.
"That's a tough one. Emotions are obviously very high, but we unfortunately didn't get off to the start that we needed to get off to in the championship game. [We] Played a tremendous second half to get back in the ball game, but unfortunately, we dug ourselves a little bit too much of a hole in the first half and didn't dictate like we should. Hats off to South Florida and Jose [Fernandez]. He's an incredible coach, and they are very talented. They are again a great team, hats off to them."
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
First Quarter
South Florida grabbed the game's first basket before Ngulefac had the counter with a layup. Down by eight, back-to-back Ngulefac scores brought the Owls within four points. After Hailey Adams cut the Rice deficit to two points, another quick run extended the Bull lead to eight. Rice trailed 18-12 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Ennis opened the scoring before USF pushed its lead back out to eight. Fisher snapped the run but the Bulls responded by taking a double-digit lead. Fisher and Ngulefac countered several South Florida baskets, but the Bulls still led 37-26 at the half.
Third Quarter
Ennis opened the scoring before South Florida countered to push its lead to 15 points. Still down the same amount, Ngulefac and Victoria Flores hit back-to-back shots to get within 11 points. After a Bulls score, Fisher hit a pair of baskets as the Owls trailed 51-42 at the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
Alexis got the offense started in the fourth, with free throws later bringing the Owls within five. A quick run gave the Bulls a 10-point lead, with Ennis hitting a three to get within seven. Adams and Fisher later cut the deficit to five, but time would ultimately run out for the Owls and South Florida held on to win.
Quick Notes
Fisher reached the top 10 in all-time scoring.
Fisher is now ninth all-time in made field goals.
She also recorded her 500th made field goal.
Team Stats
Rice
USF
FG%
.435
.444
3FG%
.125
.385
FT%
.750
.842
RB
30
33
TO
14
18
STL
9
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09