by By Kenny Bybee, Rice communications
MEMPHIS, TN – The Rice Owls women’s basketball team put the finishing touches on a memorable 2020-21 season by winning the program’s first-ever WNIT title, defeating Ole Miss 71-58 Sunday afternoon.
Rice (23-4) won their second postseason title (WBI in 2017) under head coach Tina Langley with their fifth straight double-digit victory of the tournament.
Senior center Nancy Mulkey was named the tournament’s MVP after filling the box score with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks and 3 assists. The Cypress, Texas native made 9-of-11 shots from the field in 32 minutes. In the five games in the WNIT Mulkey averaged 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.4 blocks while shooting 54 percent from the field and 94 percent at the free throw line.
Also earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team was sophomore wing Lauren Schwartz, who scored 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting in 36 minutes. For the tournament, Schwartz averaged 20.0 points on 63 percent shooting. Junior point guard Jasmine Smith came up one rebound shy of another double-double with 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals.
The Owls never trailed in Sunday’s championship as they outshot Ole Miss (15-12) from the field, 50% to 30% and were perfect at the charity stripe, making all 17 free throw attempts.
Postgame Reaction- Head Coach Tina Langley
“I’m just proud of this team. They’ve been through more than anybody knows. We’ve had so much adversity this season. I’m proud for their resiliency and their character, and the way they stay together. They’re so selfless. I just love them, they’re an incredible group of young women.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Owls outscored the Rebels 17-13 in the first 10 minutes and the defense locked in, holding Ole Miss to 5-of-20 shooting from the field. Schwartz scored 10 points in the quarter, which included the final six points by the Owls.
Second Quarter
Rice claimed a double-digit lead heading into halftime by outscoring the Rebels 17-10 to take a 34-23 lead at the break. Mulkey took over with nine points in the period and blocked four shots in the quarter. Defensively the Owls held Ole Miss to just two made field goals on 13 attempts.
Third Quarter
Mulkey added eight more points in the third quarter while Schwartz and Smith each knocked it a three-pointer as the Owls won the quarter, 18-17 and led 52-40 with one quarter remaining.
Fourth Quarter
Ole Miss used a 10-0 run midway through the quarter to cut the deficit to 58-54 with 4:25 remaining. However, the Owls kept their composure and broke the momentum with four made free throws from Smith and Katelyn Crosthwait. (Navajo) Wiggins delivered the knockout punch with a made three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to send the Rice bench into pandemonium.
