HOUSTON – In a thrilling contest at Tudor Fieldhouse, the Rice women’s basketball team showcased their resilience, relying on crucial three-pointers in the final moments to fend off a determined Sam Houston squad, ultimately securing a 65-60 victory. This triumph marks Rice’s fourth consecutive win, elevating their record to an impressive 4-1 in the early stages of the season.
Dominique Ennis was a standout for the Owls, delivering a solid performance with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Emily Klaczek complemented her efforts, contributing 12 points alongside eight rebounds and four assists.
As a collective unit, Rice demonstrated their offensive prowess, shooting 21-of-47 (44.7%) from the floor and hitting 7-of-19 (36.8%) from beyond the arc. They also made a respectable 16-of-23 (69.6%) from the free throw line, showcasing their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head CoachLindsay Edmonds
“Winning’s hard. We’ve won four straight, so I’m pleased and proud of our team to be able to finish off tonight’s game. The coach in me obviously wants better. We have high expectations for this team, and we want to be playing the best basketball that we can right now. I don’t expect us to be where we are going to be in March, but I expect the best version of ourselves that we can be on Nov. 17. There are definitely some things we can clean up, and that’s what we will definitely do. [I’m] ready to get back to work with this team and get back to playing our brand of basketball just a little bit more.”
For more of the post-game press conference, click here.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
After Sam Houston opened the game with a pair of buckets, Rice quickly found their rhythm. Tied at 6-6, Ennis’ jumper was followed by a three-pointer, igniting an impressive 14-0 run that included scores from Adams and three field goals by Shelby Hayes. Another Ennis three closed the quarter, giving Rice a commanding lead at 23-8.
Second Quarter
The Bearkats managed to cut the deficit to 11 before Hayes netted the Owls’ first score of the quarter. An explosive 9-0 run by Sam Houston tightened the score to 25-21, but Aniah Alexis put an end to their momentum with a crucial layup. Victoria Flores later extended the advantage back to nine with a timely three-pointer, ensuring Rice led 38-31 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Sam Houston continued to battle back, slicing the deficit to four. However, Ennis answered with another triple, pushing the lead back to seven. With Rice ahead 42-39, Klaczek went on a personal 8-0 run, highlighted by a pair of free throws and back-to-back three-pointers. The Owls solidified their lead, closing the quarter at 55-45.
Fourth Quarter
As the final quarter commenced, the Bearkats decreased the Rice lead to three, but Klaczek responded with a vital three-pointer. A steal and subsequent basket by Jazzy Owens-Barnett elevated the Owls’ lead back to eight, forcing a Sam Houston timeout. Free throws down the stretch maintained Rice’s advantage, culminating in their hard-fought 65-60 victory.
Quick Notes
Adams tied a career-high with three blocks. Alexis had a career-high three assists. Rice is now 22-7 all-time against Sam Houston.
UP NEXT
The Owls will embark on their first road trip of the season, facing Gonzaga on Thursday.
How do you plan to leverage Dominique Ennis’ leadership on and off the court as the season progresses?
**Interview with Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds Following Rice Women’s Basketball Victory**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Coach Edmonds. Congratulations on the win against Sam Houston! Let’s dive into the game. How did you feel about the team’s performance, especially in those clutch moments at the end?
**Coach Edmonds:** Thank you! First off, I’m really proud of our team. Winning’s hard, and to come through in those final moments shows a lot of resilience. We executed well under pressure, especially with those crucial three-pointers. It’s great to see our hard work translate into success.
**Editor:** Dominique Ennis had a standout game with 15 points and crucial contributions throughout. How important was her performance to this victory?
**Coach Edmonds:** Dominique stepped up tremendously. When players perform at that level, it sparks the entire team. Her ability to score, rebound, and assist really helped us maintain momentum against a tough opponent. We need that kind of leadership on the court.
**Editor:** The team shot 44.7% from the floor and showed great efficiency at the line. Do you see this as a sign of improvement, and where do you think there’s still room for growth?
**Coach Edmonds:** Absolutely, shooting percentages are encouraging, but we can definitely clean up some areas, particularly on defense and better shot selection at times. We want to play our best basketball, and that’s going to be a focus in practices moving forward.
**Editor:** You’ve now won four straight games, which is impressive early in the season. How do you keep the team grounded while also building on this momentum?
**Coach Edmonds:** That’s the challenge as a coach! We celebrate our victories, but we emphasize the importance of learning and growing. March is when we want to be at our peak, so we keep the players focused on taking it one game at a time and improving every day.
**Editor:** What’s next for the Owls as you look ahead to your upcoming games?
**Coach Edmonds:** We’re ready to get back to work and focus on our next opponents. Each game offers a new opportunity to refine our skills and strategy. We want to keep building on what we’ve established so far and push ourselves to be better every day.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Edmonds, for your insights. Best of luck in the upcoming games!
**Coach Edmonds:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and will strive to make our fans proud.
