Rice University Athletics
Saturday, January 31
San Antonio, TX
1 p.m.
Rice University
19-3,9-0American
65
at
55
UTSA
10-10,5-4American
1
2
3
4
F
Rice
19
12
20
14
65
UTSA
15
13
11
16
55
Flores' Career Day Ignites Rice Past UTSA
1/31/2026 5:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN ANTONIO – The Rice women's basketball team powered past UTSA 65-55 behind a career day from Victoria Flores Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The Owls cap off a perfect January with their 14th consecutive win to move to 19-3 (9-0 American), while the Roadrunners fall to 10-10 (5-4 American).
Flores led the Owls behind a career-high 33 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, with five rebounds, an assist and block. Shelby Hayes added 13 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
As a team, Rice shot 22-of-54 (40.7%) from the floor and 6-of-18 (33.3%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 15-of-18 (83.3%) showing from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Today was a battle, and we knew it was going to be a battle. I am so proud of our young ladies for the way that they competed and for the way they dealt with adversities. They found a way to win when we could have hung our heads. They were really tough and they were together. I think we made stops when we needed it and made scores when we needed it. This is a tough place to win, so for us to be able to come up here and get a win on the road, I'm just really, really impressed and proud."
HOW IT HAPPENED,
First Quarter
A pair of UTSA scores opened the game before a Dominique Ennis jumper and Flores three got Rice on the board. Trailing by two, another Flores and Ennis combo put the Owls up 12-9. Up by a point, a third Flores triple extended the lead. Tied up, Hayes and Flores hit consecutive shots to give Rice a 19-15 lead at the end of one.
Second Quarter
Hayes and Ennis traded baskets early in the second quarter as Rice maintained its lead. Leading by seven, Flores, Hayes and Adams countered Roadrunner baskets as the Owls led by six. Rice led 31-28 at the half.
Third Quarter
A Hayes score opened the third, with Flores later extending the lead to seven points. Aniah Alexis followed with a triple as Rice went up 42-32. Leading by eight, a Flores basket followed by Louann Battiston's three ballooned the lead to 13 points. With the lead at 10 points, another Flores triple pushed the lead back up to 13, with Rice eventually taking a 51-39 lead to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Battiston and Hayes kept Rice's offense going in the fourth, with the Owls going up 14 points. The Roadrunners responded with an 8-0 run to get with six before Adams got Rice back on the board. Flores scored the final eight Rice points to close out the game and secure the win.
Quick Notes
Flores had a career-high 33 points and eight field goals.
The 33 points are the most since Destiny Jackson had the same amount in the 2022-23 season.
Rice posted a perfect 8-0 mark in January.
The Owls are now 17-15 all-time against UTSA.
UP NEXT
Rice is off for a week before heading to Memphis next Saturday.
Flores led the Owls behind a career-high 33 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, with five rebounds, an assist and block. Shelby Hayes added 13 points, six rebounds, and an assist.
As a team, Rice shot 22-of-54 (40.7%) from the floor and 6-of-18 (33.3%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 15-of-18 (83.3%) showing from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Today was a battle, and we knew it was going to be a battle. I am so proud of our young ladies for the way that they competed and for the way they dealt with adversities. They found a way to win when we could have hung our heads. They were really tough and they were together. I think we made stops when we needed it and made scores when we needed it. This is a tough place to win, so for us to be able to come up here and get a win on the road, I'm just really, really impressed and proud."
First Quarter
A pair of UTSA scores opened the game before a Dominique Ennis jumper and Flores three got Rice on the board. Trailing by two, another Flores and Ennis combo put the Owls up 12-9. Up by a point, a third Flores triple extended the lead. Tied up, Hayes and Flores hit consecutive shots to give Rice a 19-15 lead at the end of one.
Second Quarter
Hayes and Ennis traded baskets early in the second quarter as Rice maintained its lead. Leading by seven, Flores, Hayes and Adams countered Roadrunner baskets as the Owls led by six. Rice led 31-28 at the half.
Third Quarter
A Hayes score opened the third, with Flores later extending the lead to seven points. Aniah Alexis followed with a triple as Rice went up 42-32. Leading by eight, a Flores basket followed by Louann Battiston's three ballooned the lead to 13 points. With the lead at 10 points, another Flores triple pushed the lead back up to 13, with Rice eventually taking a 51-39 lead to the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Battiston and Hayes kept Rice's offense going in the fourth, with the Owls going up 14 points. The Roadrunners responded with an 8-0 run to get with six before Adams got Rice back on the board. Flores scored the final eight Rice points to close out the game and secure the win.
Quick Notes
Flores had a career-high 33 points and eight field goals.
The 33 points are the most since Destiny Jackson had the same amount in the 2022-23 season.
Rice posted a perfect 8-0 mark in January.
The Owls are now 17-15 all-time against UTSA.
Rice is off for a week before heading to Memphis next Saturday.
Team Stats
Rice
UTSA
FG%
.407
.297
3FG%
.333
.214
FT%
.833
.875
RB
44
34
TO
20
15
STL
6
11
Game Leaders
Pts
33
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
13
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballC
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Wednesday, March 09