Rice Women’s Basketball fought to the end but ran out of gas in a double-overtime defeat at Louisiana Tech.
Winners of three straight, Rice women’s basketball headed to Ruston with confidence. The Owls had seemingly gotten over the hump and gotten into a rhythm. The Conference USA Division was so wide open, in fact, that Rice entered the game with a real chance to leap up the standings. To get there, Rice would have to defeat Louisiana Tech for the second time this season, a feat they came within two overtimes of achieving.
Things started quietly enough with both teams trading points in the first quarter. Louisana Tech would go on the game’s first big run, taking a nine-point lead into halftime. That lead would briefly reach 10 points midway through the third quarter, then Ashlee Austin took over.
Last Time Out: Rice Women’s Basketball takes second straight from UAB
Following an eight-point outburst from Destiny Jackson, Austin would score the Owls’ final 14 points of the third quarter. No other Owls scored in that frame, but Rice wouldn’t need much more help at that point. The large lead was ground down to three points when the fourth quarter began.
It was Maya Bokunewicz who would step up next. She connected on back-to-back three-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give Rice its first lead since the beginnings of the second quarter. Not long after, India Bellamy was helped off the court by trainers who were able to hold on and force overtime.
Rice women’s basketball hung tough in the first extra period but had to watch as what might have been the game-winning last-second shot by Malia Fisher bounced off the boards. In the second overtime, Rice would not be as fortunate. Fisher fouled out as did Jackson and the shorthanded Owls were held without a field goal in the final period, falling on the road 90-80.
Player Spotlight | Destiny Jackson
Jackson has been a revelation over the last month of the season. She’s developed into a lethal scoring threat, but she did it all on Thursday night against Louisiana Tech, notching her first carer double-double. She had 10 rebounds to lead all Owls with 14 points and six assists. If good things were happening for Rice, Jackson was almost always involved.
Stat Corner | More than once, twice
Rice women’s basketball was extremely fortunate they were able to get Bellamy back on the court in overtime after a nasty looking fall in regulation. They needed her down the stretch in large part because this team seemingly doesn’t know how to quit, even when facing tired legs and endless extra periods. This game marks the second overtime game Rice has played this season and both games have included multiple extra periods. Rice lost to Charlotte in 4 OT on Jan. 22.
Final Box | LA Tech 90 – Rice 80
FINAL | LA Tech 90 – @RiceWBB 80 pic.twitter.com/aHnoiwYiol
— The Roost (@AtTheRoost) February 25, 2022
Up Next | Full Schedule
Rice women’s basketball has one last stop on the road this coming Saturday against Southern Miss, then it’s back to Houston for two final home games to wrap up the regular season. They’ll host UTEP on Mar. 3 and UTSA on Mar. 5, Senior Day.
