Owls No Match for Aggies
COLLEGE STATION, TX -- The Rice Owls may still enjoy a successful season; however, an 0 and 2 start does not bode well. Losing the season opener to Texas-Arlington, 81 to 64, last Friday was disappointing; and, getting whacked by 36 points (86 to 50) Tuesday night by a very good Texas A&M squad was not a surprise. The concern comes from the numerous turnovers (49 in two games) and the very, very poor defense the Owls have displayed thus far.
The Owls have 10 freshmen and sophomores this season; so, youth and inexperience is a factor in the shaky start; however, after Tuesday's loss to the Aggies, Owls head coach Greg Williams cited lack of focus as a problem as well.
"We were shooting two free throws; and, they had a player get a lay-up at the other end; and, my player said she didn't know where her player was. How can that happen? That's just lack of focus. It would be different if we're in transition; but, we're shooting two free throws and you don't know where your player is. That's just one example."
Jessica Goswitz, freshman guard from Webb School in Knoxville, TN, has been a bright spot for Williams thus far. Goswitz scored 12 points in her collegiate debut versus UTA and 10 more points versus the Aggies.
Goswitz was the only Owls' player to score in double figures versus the Ags.
"I'm very proud of freshman Jessica Gowsitz who was our only player in double figures. She played her heart out. We just have to get more doing the same thing."
Coach Williams said simply the Owls have to improve.
"We just gotta try to get better," Coach Williams added. "I'm disappointed we didn't follow our defensive game plan like we wanted to. We were kind of staying with it the first eight to 10 minutes of the game; and, we were in the game. At that point, even though we were struggling to score, we started making a lot of defensive breakdowns. Players deviating from how we wanted to defend certain things that they were doing. That started our downfall.
"We're fouling too much. We committed 28 fouls in our first game and 26 tonight. That shows a lack of commitment to help and moving your feet and having pride in your individual defense. We just have to keep working on that."
The Owls travel to Nacogdoches Saturday, November 21, to play Stephen F. Austin. Tip is set for 4:30 p.m.
The Owls have 10 freshmen and sophomores this season; so, youth and inexperience is a factor in the shaky start; however, after Tuesday's loss to the Aggies, Owls head coach Greg Williams cited lack of focus as a problem as well.
"We were shooting two free throws; and, they had a player get a lay-up at the other end; and, my player said she didn't know where her player was. How can that happen? That's just lack of focus. It would be different if we're in transition; but, we're shooting two free throws and you don't know where your player is. That's just one example."
Jessica Goswitz, freshman guard from Webb School in Knoxville, TN, has been a bright spot for Williams thus far. Goswitz scored 12 points in her collegiate debut versus UTA and 10 more points versus the Aggies.
Goswitz was the only Owls' player to score in double figures versus the Ags.
"I'm very proud of freshman Jessica Gowsitz who was our only player in double figures. She played her heart out. We just have to get more doing the same thing."
Coach Williams said simply the Owls have to improve.
"We just gotta try to get better," Coach Williams added. "I'm disappointed we didn't follow our defensive game plan like we wanted to. We were kind of staying with it the first eight to 10 minutes of the game; and, we were in the game. At that point, even though we were struggling to score, we started making a lot of defensive breakdowns. Players deviating from how we wanted to defend certain things that they were doing. That started our downfall.
"We're fouling too much. We committed 28 fouls in our first game and 26 tonight. That shows a lack of commitment to help and moving your feet and having pride in your individual defense. We just have to keep working on that."
The Owls travel to Nacogdoches Saturday, November 21, to play Stephen F. Austin. Tip is set for 4:30 p.m.
posted by Kris G @ 10:00 AM
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