Rice University Athletics
Tuesday, February 10
Houston, Texas
8 p.m.
Rice University
21-3,11-0American
70
vs
68
North Texas
13-11,7-5American
1
2
3
4
F
North Texas
18
17
18
15
68
Rice
16
14
20
20
70
Owls Rally Past North Texas for 16th Straight Win
2/11/2026 12:33:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – The Rice women's basketball team erased multiple double-digit second half deficits to upend North Texas 70-68 Tuesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls earned their 16th consecutive win to move to 21-3 (11-0 American), while North Texas fell to 13-11 (7-5 American). The win clinched a spot in the American Conference Tournament in Birmingham, Ala.
Aniah Alexis led the way with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Shelby Hayes added 14 points, three rebounds, a steal and a block. Dominique Ennis finished with 13 points and three rebounds, while Louann Battiston rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, two assists and a rebound.
As a team, Rice shot 21-of-56 (37.5%) from the floor and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 19-of-26 (73.1%) clip from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Today the commentators asked me at shootaround, 'what makes this group different,' and I told them 'their toughness in adversity,' and tonight showcased that. We faced a lot of adversity. Even in the third quarter we were down 12 points, and it didn't matter how hard we challenged them, they were ready. They were ready to step up. They were ready to do whatever it took to get the win. Their huddles got tighter, their togetherness got tighter, their heart showed a little bit more. I'm just so proud of this group and of their refusing to lose mentality and their willing to do whatever it takes to get a win. They're special and tonight showed how special they really are."
For the full press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED,
First Quarter
Hayes opened the scoring, as the two sides traded scores to open the game. Victoria Flores and Hailey Adams added scores, with an Ennis three-pointer following as Rice grabbed a 9-4 lead. After Jordin Blackmon's jump shot gave Rice a four-point advantage, a UNT run gave the Mean Green the lead. Battiston closed the quarter with a three, as Rice trailed 18-16 at the end of one.
Second Quarter
Adams tied the game to open the second, with UNT quickly retaking the lead. Down seven, a Hayes basket, later followed by another Ennis three, brought the Owls within a point. Rice trailed 35-30 at the half.
Third Quarter
North Texas opened the third on a 7-0 run before Ennis snapped the streak. Alexis sank a triple to bring Rice within nine, but the Mean Green responded with a three of their own to go up 47-35 with 5:11 in the third. Hayes answered with a layup, with Ennis and Alexis hitting back-to-back threes to get within four. UNT pushed the lead back to 10 with 59 seconds in the frame, with Hayes cutting into the deficit with free throws. Back-to-back steals on the inbounds led to an Alexis layup and Battiston three as Rice quickly cut the deficit to 53-50 at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter
Flores opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a jumper, with Rice and North Texas trading leads over the next several minutes. Tied with just over four minutes to go, UNT went on a run to grab a five-point lead with 3:34 to go. Hayes snapped the run with a layup, with a Battiston three tying the game. Following a defensive stop, Battiston sank another triple to give Rice a three-point lead with just under two minutes to go. North Texas found a basket on the other end, but three consecutive stops on the defensive end sealed the comeback win for Rice.
Quick Notes
The Owls move to 11-0 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.
Rice is now 18-11 all-time against North Texas.
UP NEXT
Rice continues the homestand Friday night against Wichita State for the Play4Kay game.
Aniah Alexis led the way with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Shelby Hayes added 14 points, three rebounds, a steal and a block. Dominique Ennis finished with 13 points and three rebounds, while Louann Battiston rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points, two assists and a rebound.
As a team, Rice shot 21-of-56 (37.5%) from the floor and 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three-point range. The Owls added a 19-of-26 (73.1%) clip from the free throw line.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"Today the commentators asked me at shootaround, 'what makes this group different,' and I told them 'their toughness in adversity,' and tonight showcased that. We faced a lot of adversity. Even in the third quarter we were down 12 points, and it didn't matter how hard we challenged them, they were ready. They were ready to step up. They were ready to do whatever it took to get the win. Their huddles got tighter, their togetherness got tighter, their heart showed a little bit more. I'm just so proud of this group and of their refusing to lose mentality and their willing to do whatever it takes to get a win. They're special and tonight showed how special they really are."
For the full press conference, click here.
First Quarter
Hayes opened the scoring, as the two sides traded scores to open the game. Victoria Flores and Hailey Adams added scores, with an Ennis three-pointer following as Rice grabbed a 9-4 lead. After Jordin Blackmon's jump shot gave Rice a four-point advantage, a UNT run gave the Mean Green the lead. Battiston closed the quarter with a three, as Rice trailed 18-16 at the end of one.
Second Quarter
Adams tied the game to open the second, with UNT quickly retaking the lead. Down seven, a Hayes basket, later followed by another Ennis three, brought the Owls within a point. Rice trailed 35-30 at the half.
Third Quarter
North Texas opened the third on a 7-0 run before Ennis snapped the streak. Alexis sank a triple to bring Rice within nine, but the Mean Green responded with a three of their own to go up 47-35 with 5:11 in the third. Hayes answered with a layup, with Ennis and Alexis hitting back-to-back threes to get within four. UNT pushed the lead back to 10 with 59 seconds in the frame, with Hayes cutting into the deficit with free throws. Back-to-back steals on the inbounds led to an Alexis layup and Battiston three as Rice quickly cut the deficit to 53-50 at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter
Flores opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a jumper, with Rice and North Texas trading leads over the next several minutes. Tied with just over four minutes to go, UNT went on a run to grab a five-point lead with 3:34 to go. Hayes snapped the run with a layup, with a Battiston three tying the game. Following a defensive stop, Battiston sank another triple to give Rice a three-point lead with just under two minutes to go. North Texas found a basket on the other end, but three consecutive stops on the defensive end sealed the comeback win for Rice.
Quick Notes
The Owls move to 11-0 at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.
Rice is now 18-11 all-time against North Texas.
Rice continues the homestand Friday night against Wichita State for the Play4Kay game.
Team Stats
UNT
Rice
FG%
.417
.375
3FG%
.100
.429
FT%
.895
.731
RB
45
30
TO
22
13
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
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