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Rice Basketball rally falls one shot short against LA Tech

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Rice Basketball did all the right things to engineer a comeback, but the Owls couldn’t muster enough juice to upend Louisiana Tech.

“I guess the head coach of the losing team doesn’t usually say this, but man, that was a heck of a college basketball game,” Rice basketball head coach Scott Pera said following the finale. He lamented the result, but praised the effort of both teams. “We didn’t lose that game. They won it. And there’s a difference.”

It took Rice basketball some time to get going against Louisiana Tech. Carl Pierre delivered an opening three, but over the span of the next eight minutes Rice would manage just one field goal, a layup from Travis Evee. Despite those initial struggles from the field, the Owls were able to hang tough with the Bulldogs.

Louisiana Tech would stretch their lead to seven points. Rice answered with a series of threes, one each from Evee and Pierre. Again, the visitors would surge. That seven points represented the Owls’ halftime deficit which would grow to a game-high 10 point advantage for Louisiana Tech on the opening possession. Rice was officially in catch up mode.

Last Time Out: Rice Basketball late rally falls short vs FIU

From that point on, Rice basketball seemed to find its rhythm. Rice shot 59.4 percent from the field in the second half, knocking down 13-of-18 shots from inside the arc plus six threes. Challenged to find success inside, Max Fiedler and Myljyael Poteat were critical pieces in the Rice rally.

The double-digit lead for Louisiana Tech slowly dwindled. By the time the clock reached the one-minute mark it was a seven-point game and Rice was in foul mode. The Owls hit multiple threes in that stretch and converted a traditional three-point play, but Louisiana Tech made their foul shots and was able to escape with a four-point win.

Player Spotlight | Terrance McBride

As the Rice basketball lineup has continued to churn, Terrance McBride has emerged as a viable answer in the backcourt. He finished with seven points and tied for the team lead with six assists while delivering two of the most crucial layups of the entire game in the final 20 seconds of the second half, cutting to the basket and drawing an extra free throw, which he hit, to make it a one=possession game.

Stat Corner | Six

Pera was quick to point out one stat in the postgame presser in defense of his team’s quality play: turnovers. “I bet no team that they played in 27 games turned the ball over six times,” Pera said. “I would check that one.” So we did.

The Owls’ six giveaways tied the fewest turnovers forced by Louisiana Tech this season. NC State committed just six turnovers in a Nov. 27 game. The Wolfpack won. Rice was one shot away. Interestingly enough, Louisiana Tech forced less than 10 turnovers on just one other occasion this year: Jan. 27, their game against Rice in Ruston, LA.

Final Box | LA Tech 83 – Rice 79

Up Next | Full Schedule

The last home game of the season for Rice basketball is slated for Saturday, Feb. 26 when they take on Southern Miss. After that, the Owls finish up with road games at UTEP on Mar. 3 and UTSA on Mar. 5. prior to the start of the conference tournament on Mar. 8.

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Shorthanded Rice Women’s Basketball runs out of gas in OT vs LA Tech

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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

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.

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Rice Women’s Basketball doubles down, takes second-straight from UAB

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Rice Women’s Basketball went wire-to-wire with UAB for the second time this week and once again walked away victorious.

Five days ago Rice women’s basketball squared off with UAB and Tudor Fieldhouse and grineded out a narrow win over the visiting Blazers. On Monday the two squads switched courts, but the results were the same. Rice and UAB found themselves in a tight game in the fourth quarter and once more, Rice was able to squeeze out the win.

The game of runs started out in favor of the home team. UAB opened the game on a 7-0 run before Rice readied a counterpunch. When the Owls were ready, they delivered a 13-0 rally. The game was on.

Last Time Out: Rice Women’s Basketball tops FIU at home

Neither side led by more than seven points. The Blazers held that advantage in the first quarter before the Owls’ run. Rice didn’t reach their own seven-point advantage until Destiny Jackson knocked down a pair of free throws ith 5:49 to play in the fourth quarter. Even then, UAB would trim the margin to two before Maya Bokunewicz delivered a crucial step-back jumper to give Rice breathing room in the final minute.

Player Spotlight | Destiny Jackson

Although she hasn’t put together any 20-point games yet, Destiny Jackson has quietly become a weapon for the Rice women’s basketball offensive attack. Over the course of the last month, she’s scored in double-digits in four of six games, ramping up her shot volume over the Owls’ three-game winning streak in which she’s averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She scored 12 with six boards on Monday.

What they’re saying |

“I know I say it all the time but I am just really so proud of this team. To come on the road on a quick turnaround after two hard-fought wins at home and pick up another one just says so much about this team, their toughness, and their fight.

Our mentality of winning the day has really stuck with them and now it’s on to the next.”

— Rice women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Edmonds

Final Box | Rice 60 – UAB 55

Up Next | Full Schedule

Rice women’s basketball has checked off the first stop of a three-game road trip that started on Monday. From Birmingham, they’ll head to Ruston to take on Louisiana Tech on Thursday, Feb. 24 and then finish things off in Hattiesburg against Southern Miss on Saturday, Feb. 26.

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Rice Basketball: Owls’ late rally comes up short at FIU

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Rice Basketball rallied late, but came up just short on the road against FIU, dropping their third straight Conference USA game.

Cameron Sheffield entered the starting lineup and quickly got things started for Rice basketball against FIU on Saturday. His three-pointer opened the scoring, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Owls from falling behind quickly on the road.

A swift 9-0 run put the Panthers in front by six. That advantage would strengthen to 10 points around the midpoint of the first half and reach as many as 17 points before Rice was able to begin to chip away early in the second half.

Last Time Out: Rice Basketball knocked out by UAB on the road

The Owls’ second half surge was sparked by Travis Evee and Carl Pierre, both of which contributed multiple three-pointers to trim the large gap to a 61-61 ballgame with just under eight minutes to play. Trailing by three points in the final minute, Rice turned to fouls but was unable to get the margin closer than two points even with a last-second three from Chris Mullins as the clock expired.

The loss is the Owls’ third consecutive conference loss since they lost guard Quincy Olivari to injury. It ties their longest losing streak of the season, a three-game drought from Nov. 23 to Nov. 30 including losses to Oakland, Fordham and Texas State.

Player Spotlight | Travis Evee

Evee bounced back from a slower-shooting night from three on Thursday, splashing six triples on 14 attempts, including several in the second half to spark the initial Rice rally. He and Carl Pierre (3-for-8 from three) are going to have to be the sparkplugs in this offense and both contributed meaningful buckets to the cause against FIU.

Stat Corner | Out-glassed

Rebounding was a crucial differentiator in this game. Not only did FIU outrebound Rice 42-28, the Panthers had 12 offensive rebounds to the Owls six. That led to more opportunities and more second-chance points. Shedding size in favor of shooting comes with a risk. Rice found themselves on the wrong side of that margin on Saturday.

Final Box | FIU 80 – Rice 78

Up Next | Full Schedule

Rice basketball will have a few days to regroup. They host Louisiana Tech on Thursday, Feb. 24 and Southern Miss on Saturday, Feb. 26 in their final homestand before finishing the regular season on the road prior to the start of the conference tournament in March.

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Lights out free-throw performance lifts Rice Women’s Basketball past FIU

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Rice Women’s Basketball was lights out down the stretch, closing out their home tilt with FIU to secure their first 2-0 weekend in league play.

The first points of the afternoon went to FIU, but Rice women’s basketball followed up a pair of their opponents’ free throws with a 14-5 run, starting strong in their effort to secure their first 2-0 weekend in conference play this season.

The Owls the Panthers to 12.5 percent shooting in the first quarter but it wouldn’t come that easy. FIU punched back in the second frame, outscoring Rice 21-11. Rice led by as many as five points in the final two minutes before FIU closed the quarter on an 8-0 run including a three-point heave at the buzzer to break a 25-25 tie.

Last Time Out: Rice Women’s Basketball edges UAB at home

The three-point shot would continue to play an important role in the game moving forward. Both teams hit from long range on two of their first three baskets of the second half as the Owls worked to whittle down a Panthers’ lead that reached six points early in the third quarter.

The game would stay within reach for both sides until the midpoint of the fourth quarter when Rice slammed the door. A 9-0 Rice run — with seven of the nine points coming from the free-throw line — put the game out of reach. The Owls did not make a field goal in the final 3:37 but were still able to maintain a comfortable margin as they closed things out.

Player Spotlight | Malia Fisher

Fisher was tremendous in the Owls’ defensive efforts down the stretch, securing 18 rebounds, the most in a game by any Conference USA player this season. She made 11-of-13 free throws, scoring 17 points. She also tied for the team lead in assists (four) and had the Owls’ only block of the game. A true freshman, Fisher’s ascent is only just beginning.

Stat Corner | Free throws = Free points

The free-throw line was where Rice women’s basketball won this game. Rice hit 31-of-36 attempts from the charity stripe, building their fourth quarter lead on foul shots and maintaining the differential with near-perfect accuracy from the line. The Owls made 20-of-22 free throws in the fourth quarter alone.

Final Box | Rice 73 – FIU 67

Up Next | Full Schedule

Rice women’s basketball will have a quick turnaround. The Owls start a three-game road trip on Monday when they travel to Birmingham to play UAB for the second time in five days. From there, they’ll finish out the trip the following weekend with games at Louisiana Tech on Thursday, Feb. 24 and Southern Miss on Saturday, Feb. 26.

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