by Rice Communications, Kenny Bybee
HOUSTON – After a 10-day layoff, the Rice Owls women’s basketball team showed little to no rust by defeating the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 83-51 Wednesday afternoon, improving to 4-0 on the season.
The Owls shot a season-best 63.6 percent from the field while also dishing out a season-high 23 assists on their 31 made field goals. All 10 players who saw action registered points, including a game-high 18 points from senior center Nancy Mulkey.
The Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year was perfect from the field (8-of-8) and made both free throw attempts. Mulkey’s performance from the floor was second only to Zoe Rogers (9-of-9 from the field on 2-25-10) in the Rice record book for most made field goals without a miss.
Junior guard Haylee Swayze was second on the team in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, her fourth straight game in double-figures. Sophomore Lauren Schwartz added 10 points while Katelyn Crosthwait (Navajo) and Destiny Jackson contributed nine points apiece.
Rice remained the only unbeaten team in C-USA with a stingy effort on the defensive end of the floor as well, holding Louisiana (1-3) to just 27 percent shooting. The Owls dominated the paint once again with a 42-12 advantage over the Ragin’ Cajuns and won the fast break (21-4) and bench scoring (33-18) battles.
