Top-Seeded Rice Faces Fifth-Seeded UNT in Semifinals

Rice Owls (27-4, 17-1 American) vs. North Texas Mean Green (19-13, 11-7 American)
Game 32 • Friday, March 13, 2026 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Birmingham, Alabama • Legacy Arena
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Tourney Time
Top-seeded Rice will square off against No. 5 North Texas Friday night in the opening semifinal game of the American Conference Championships.

Regular Season Champions
Rice was crowned the American Conference regular season champion following its win at Temple. The Owls earned their fifth regular season title in program history and first since the 2020-21 season.

Last Time Out
Rice dropped its first game since Thanksgiving 61-52 to UTSA Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale. Aniah Alexis led the Owls with 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and steal, while Shelby Hayes added eight points, two rebounds, two assists and a block.

Awards Night
Rice was well-represented on the American Conference postseason awards, with Victoria Flores earning the biggest honor as the American Conference Player of the Year. Shelby Hayes was awarded the league's Most Improved Player, while Louann Battiston was named the Sixth Player of the Year. Hailey Adams received the conference's Ambassador Award, while Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds was the unanimous Coach of the Year. Flores and Dominique Ennis were both selected as First Team honorees, while Hayes received Third Team recognition. Battiston was named to the All-Newcomer Team, while Adams earned All-Defensive Team honors.

100 for Edmonds
Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds earned her 100th career win at Charlotte, tying for the fastest coach to reach the mark in program history. Edmonds reached 100 wins in 157 games.

Weekly Honors
Aniah Alexis earned one last American Honorable Mention, a sixth time on the list. Alexis led the Owls with 12.5 points and four rebounds per game on the week.

Ennis Etched in Record Books
Dominique Ennis became the program's all-time three-point leader during Rice's win over UNLV and currently has 259 career threes. Ennis snaps Nicole Iademarco's record of 198, who was on the team from 2016-19. Ennis's 82 three-pointers last season set the program's single-season record.

Dom Reaches 1,000
Dominique Ennis became the 27^th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points in Rice's overtime win against Illinois State. She is now the third player under Coach Edmonds to reach the milestone, with Ennis' 1,344 points ranking 10th in program history.

Perfect Night for Flores
Victoria Flores was a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line in Rice's 70-56 win on the road over Houston. Flores' 16 made free throws are the third most in a single game in school history (record - 18-18 by Holly Jones in 1985).

A New Streak
Aniah Alexis had the nation's longest perfect start at the free throw line this season, opening with a 43- of-43 shooting mark spanning over 20 games. Alexis had her first miss of the season against Temple (1/28). The mark is the best start to a season from the free throw line in program history.

Rice vs. North Texas
This is the 30th meeting between the two long-time conference rivals, with the Owls holding a 18-11 series lead. The Owls won both matchups during the regular season.

Non-con Phenom
Rice's 10 wins during the non-conference slate are tied for the most wins during non-conference play in program history. This is the third time Rice has reached 10 non-conference wins, with the other two being during the 2017-18 and 1992-93 seasons.

Adams Named Servant Leader
Hailey Adams was one of 64 women's basketball athletes in the nation selected to be a Kay Yow Servant Leader Award winner, a prestigious award honoring student athletes who exemplify the values of leadership, selflessness, and service.

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