Courtesy of Rice Athletics Communications
DENTON, Texas – The Rice Owls women’s basketball clinched the Conference USA West Division title with a gritty 64-58 road victory Thursday evening at North Texas.
Rice (16-2, 12-1) used a 7-2 run over the game’s final couple of minutes to clinch the No. 1 seed and a double bye into the quarterfinals at next week’s C-USA Championship tournament in Frisco.
The Owls placed three players in double-figure scoring, led by 12 points from sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz. Senior center Nancy Mulkey secured her third straight double-double and sixth of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go along with seven blocks. Sophomore guard Katelyn Crosthwait also added 10 points, which included a clutch three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Rice, who is receiving votes in this week’s WBCA Coaches’ Poll, outshot the Mean Green (12-6, 9-4) from the field 47 percent to 32 percent while also winning points in the paint (34-22).
North Texas was led in scoring by Jazion Jackson, who scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls shot 50 percent from the field in the opening period, one which they won 19-13. Six different Owls scored in the quarter and Rice assisted on five on their seven made field goals. Crosthwait and Swayze scored five points apiece in the quarter while Jasmine Smith recorded three assists.
Second Quarter
North Texas bounced back by outscoring the Owls 18-9 as Jackson got going with eight points. The Mean Green increased their lead to as much as six points with 1:08 remaining but the Owls scored the final three points on a free throw by India Bellamy and a driving layup by Destiny Jackson to make it 31-28 at the half.
Third Quarter
The two teams played to a 13-13 tie in the third period with neither team shooting the ball particularly well from the field. Smith recorded four points and snagged three rebounds in the quarter while Mulkey rejected three shots. North Texas led 44-41 going into the final 10 minutes.
Fourth Quarter
The Owls began their comeback in the early moments of the quarter and reeled off 12 consecutive points, capped by a Mulkey layup with 4:52 remaining that gave the Owls a 55-48 advantage. During that stretch, Schwartz connected from deep to give the Owls the lead and Crosthwait followed with a made three-pointer as the shot clock horn sounded. North Texas made it a 59-58 Rice lead with 1:09 left, however, Smith made a driving layup and Sydne Wiggins followed with an old-fashioned three-point play to seal the victory.
Up Next
The Owls and Mean Green will tangle again on Saturday, Mar. 6 from Tudor Fieldhouse in the regular season finale. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. on CUSAtv.