by Don Mooney
photo by Don Mooney
BIRMINGHAM – The top-seeded Rice women’s basketball team is headed to the American Conference championship game for a third consecutive year after a 71-67 win over fifth-seeded North Texas Friday night in the American semifinal game at Legacy Arena. The Owls improve to 28-4 (17-1 American), while the Mean Green fall to 19-14 (11-7 American Conference).
photo by Don Mooney
Victoria Flores led the Owls with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal, while Dominique Ennis added 19 points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist. Hailey Adams rounded out the double-digit scorers with 17 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and a block. As a team, Rice shot 24-of-68 (35.3%) from the floor and 5-of-20 (25%) from three-point range. The Owls added an 18-of-22 (81.8%) showing from the free throw line.
photo by Don Mooney
North Texas cut the deficit to four points before a pair of Ennis free throws got the Rice offense started. With the game tied, Alexis hit a jumper to retake the lead. Later trailing by three, Louann Battisto sank a three to even the score. Rice trailed 37-32 at the half. Adams traded scores with UNT to open the third, with Ennis going on a run to tie the game. Leading by a point, Flores converted a three-point play to extend the lead. Still leading by a pair, Adams’ jumper and a Flores triple gave Rice a 51-44 lead. Up six, Myah Hazelton’s layup was followed by another Flores and-one conversion, putting the Owls up 59-48 after three. Ennis opened the fourth with a score, with UNT responding with a three-pointer. Adams’ layup put the Owls up 11 points before the Mean Green went on a run to get within six. Flores snapped the run with free throws, with a Hayes layup pushing the lead back to 10 points. UNT responded with another run, but free throws kept Rice’s lead intact for the win.
photo by Don Mooney
Postgame Reaction – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds
“I’m really proud of this group. That was a battle. Credit to North Texas, I thought they played a heck of a game. I thought we had a great first quarter and thought we had a great third quarter, and that was really the separator in this game. We talked about wanting to lean into our defense and lean into our rebounds, and I feel like we really hung our hats on that for the most part in this game. Proud of the effort to be able to get this win and get ourselves back into the championship game for the third year in a row.” The Mean Green grabbed the opening points of the game before Aniah Alexis got the Owls on the board. Down four, a quick 5-0 run by Ennis gave Rice the lead. Down three, Adams’ layup sparked a 9-0 run with Ennis also contributing as Rice went up six. The Owls led 23-15.
photo by Don Mooney
Quick Notes
Adams’ 17 points were a season high.
Adams was honored pregame for being a Kay Yow Servant Leader.
The Owls are 8-1 in American Tournament games.
Rice is the first one-seed to win a game in the American Tournament since 2022.
The Owls have reached the American championship game all three years in the conference.
Rice is now 19-11 all-time against North Texas.
UP NEXT
The Owls face sixth-seeded UTSA in the American championship game tonight.