Rice women’s basketball has now dropped three of its last four, falling to FAU to kick off a road trip to Florida on a low note.
Still without the services of veteran guard Malia Fisher, Rice women’s basketball got off to a strong start on the road against FAU on Saturday. The Owls scored the first five points and controlled the contest for much of the early goings, trailing for a total of 19 seconds in the first half.
Nine different Rice players scored in that first half, producing one of the most balanced box scores you’ll see in the sport today. Eight different players made at least one field goal. It truly was a team effort that enabled the Owls to keep pace with a feisty FAU team that forced the Owls into several mental mistakes.
A strong third quarter for Dominque Ennis nearly put the game out of reach. Rice went up by as many as 12 points and entered the final quarter with an 11-point advantage. It would not be enough.
Rice shot 30.8 percent from the field in the last frame. FAU knocked down 70 percent of their shots, including a sterling 5-for-5 from three. That led to a 30-point outburst for the home team and a come-from-ahead Rice loss. The loss drops Rice to 6-4 in league play.
Final Box | FAU 68 – Rice 63
FINAL | FAU 68 – @RiceWBB 63 pic.twitter.com/udtDHsxaKc
— The Roost (@AtTheRoost) February 3, 2024
Key takeaway | Turnover troubles
Rice women’s basketball probably should have won this game. They were better from the field. They had more rebounds, more second-chance points and more blocks. Other important measures — free throws, points in the paint, assists — were all relatively even. The one glaring statistic not in the Owls’ favor? Turnovers.
Rice turned the ball over 21 times compared to FAU’s 12 turnovers. To make matters worse, FAU had 10 steals. Rice had none. Practically, that translates to extra opportunities for the other team. FAU attempted five more shots and made two more threes. But it was how those opportunities arose, FAU chances given at the expense of Rice getting a shot off, that cost the Owls this game.
Up Next: at USF (Wednesday, Feb. 7)
