Ennis’ Game-Winning Three Lifts Rice Over ECU

Saturday, February 21

Greenville, NC

12 p.m.

Rice University

24-3,14-0American

East Carolina

20-8,12-3American

Rice

East Carolina

Hailey Adams, Dominique Ennis, Jordin Blackmon

Ennis’ Game-Winning Three Lifts Rice Over ECU

2/21/2026 5:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Anthony Roberts (ar186@rice.edu)

GREENVILLE – The Rice women's basketball team rallied behind clutch shooting in the final minutes of the game, with Dominique Ennis drilling the game-winning three with 12 seconds left, to defeat East Carolina 60-58 Saturday at Minges Coliseum. The Owls earn their 19^th consecutive win to move to 24-3 (14-0 American) while the Pirates fall to 20-8 (12-3 American).

Ennis led the Owls with 16 points, four rebounds, three steals, two rebounds and a block, while Shelby Hayes added 11 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Hailey Adams had a career day with 11 points, 19 rebounds, four blocks and an assist.

As a team, Rice shot 20-of-67 (29.9%) from the floor and 6-of-19 (31.6%) from the three-point line. The Owls added a 14-of-15 (93.3%) showing from the free throw line. Down by six with five to go, the Owls finished 5-of-7 from the floor, while ECU has held to 1-of-8 shooting.

Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
"I'm so proud. What a win. What a battle. Our young ladies just fought, and in the signs of adversity, they stayed together, answered and responded every single time. I'm just so proud. That was a hostile environment, and that was a tough game. But they just had a ton of toughness and a ton of togetherness to continue getting wins."

HOW IT HAPPENED,
First Quarter
ECU grabbed the game's first basket before Aniah Alexis got the Owls on the board with a three-pointer. Tailing by a pair, a quick run from Ennis, Adams and Hayes put the Owls ahead by four points. Rice led 10-8 at the end of one.

Second Quarter
Louann Battiston got Rice's offense started in the second, before a short run gave the Pirates the lead. Alexis and Adams countered ECU scores, with Ennis later bringing the Owls within a point. Down three, Ennis sank a triple to even the score. Rice trailed 27-25 at the half.

Third Quarter
An Adams and-one conversion opened the third, with the Pirates responding with a run to take a four-point lead. Ennis brought Rice within a point after a triple, with Flores later putting the Owls up one. The two sides traded scores, with ECU grabbing a 46-43 lead after three.

Fourth Quarter
Hayes countered an ECU score early, as the Pirates took a five-point lead. Ennis cut the deficit to two with a three-pointer, but ECU pushed its lead to six at the final media timeout. Trailing 54-48 with 4:28 to go, an Ennis steal led to a Hayes layup. After a stop, another Hayes layup brought the Owls within two points. Another defensive stop led to a Flores three on the other end to put Rice up with three minutes to go. Hayes extended the lead to three, with an ECU run giving the Pirates a 58-57 lead with 1:14 to go. After defensive stops on both sides, Ennis drilled a corner three with 12 seconds to go, with the Owls' defense getting a final stop for the win.

Quick Notes
Adams recorded a career-high 19 rebounds.
Adams entered the Rice top 10 with 91 career blocks.
She also entered the top 10 in single-season rebounds and is now seventh with 212 rebounds.
Flores recorded her 100^th career three-pointer.
The 24 wins are the most wins in the Edmonds era.
The 14 conference wins are also the most in the Edmonds era.
Rice is now 10-6 all-time against ECU.

UP NEXT
The Owls continue the road stand Wednesday night at Temple.