by By Kenny Bybee
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Rice Owls women’s basketball team delivered their first win over a Power Five Opponent in 14 years by defeating the Texas Tech Lady Raiders in convincing fashion, 81-62 Saturday evening at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Rice (3-0) remained unbeaten on the season with a brilliant team performance, placing five players in double-figures in a game in which the Owls never trailed. The Owls previous win over a P5 program came back on Dec. 1, 2006 when they defeated then No. 10 Texas A&M, 79-66.
Rice dominated the Lady Raiders (2-1) in many facets, outshooting Tech from the field 51 percent-31 percent, which included a blistering 12-of-23 (52 percent) performance from three-point territory. The Owls also outscored Tech in points in the paint (38-8) and bench scoring (29-8).
Sophomore Destiny Jackson recorded a career-high 15 points off the bench for the Owls in 21 minutes, making 6-of-8 shots from the field and both free throw attempts. Sophomore Katelyn Crosthwait (Navajo) in 14 points and was one of four Owls to make at least a pair of three-point attempts, connecting on 3-of-5 from deep.
Sophomore Lauren Schwartz contributed 13 points, 11 of which came in the all-critical second half while senior Sydne Wiggins played all 40 minutes and scored 12 points along with a team-high six assists. Junior Haylee Swayze continued her early season surge with her third straight double-digit scoring effort (11 points) off the bench, making 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Junior Jasmine Smith (9 points) and senior Nancy Mulkey (team-high 11 rebounds) also played large roles in the victory.
Rice Head Coach Tina Langley
Postgame Reaction
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team and our staff. We’re grateful to Texas Tech for giving us this opportunity as we’ve both lost games. I love the way our team prepared this week. They’ve had a lot of adversity but whatever has come their way they’ve stayed focused and tried to do the next right thing. Their work ethic and commitment to the process is tremendous and if we continue down this path special things can happen.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls couldn’t have asked for a better start, scoring the game’s first nine points and not allowing Tech to score until almost four minutes into the quarter. Crosthwait scored six points on a pair of three-pointers while Wiggins added five more and Rice led the Lady Raiders 18-11 after 10 minutes. Rice established a low post scoring threat from the jump with eight of their 18 points in the paint.
Second Quarter
Tech pulled to within 27-24 with 3:03 left in the first half but the Owls had an answer by going on a 12-3 run with Jackson contributing seven of those points to take a 39-27 lead at the break. The Owls held Tech to 4-of-17 shooting in the quarter while making 9-of-17 (53%) themselves.
Third Quarter
Rice quickly built a 46-27 a few minutes into the start of the second half behind a pair of three-point makes from Schwartz. However, a 21-4 run by the Lady Raiders gave the Owls just a 50-48 advantage with three minutes remaining. The Owls kept their composure and managed to hold a 57-51 advantage entering the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Owls delivered a haymaker over the final 10 minutes, outscoring Tech 24-11 in a quarter in which Rice played near perfection. The team made a staggering 10-of-13 (77%) shots from the floor, including a 4-of-5 effort from deep while limiting Tech to just four made field goals on 18 attempts. Swayze scored eight points in the period while Schwartz added five more and the Owls built their lead to as much as 24 points.
