Owls Beat Roadrunners for 4th Straight Win (with Video)
HOUSTON, TX -- The Rice Owls earned their fourth straight victory Monday night with a methodical 70-56 win over the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners inside Tudor Fieldhouse in front of 265 fans.
Despite 25 turnovers, the Owls controlled much of the action throughout the ball game and were never seriously challenged in the second half. The Owls have won six of seven after beginning the season 0 and 6.
"We knew we were better than that," said Owls' forward Megan Elliott. "And, we just couldn't seem to find our rhythm in games. Now, that we found it, I think we can be incredible."
Rice (6-7) was led by sophomore point guard D'Frantz Smart's near triple-double. Smart scored a team-high 18 points (6 for 12 from the field, including 2 for 4 on threes); pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds; and dished out seven assists in 37 minutes of work.
Megan Elliott led a very solid effort by the Owls' bench players with 15 points (4 for 7 from the field, 1 for 1 on threes); eight boards; two assitsts; and 1 steal. The Owls' reserves combined for 21 points and 16 rebounds.
The Owls led 5-0 for nearly three minutes as both teams struggled. UTSA's started the game with three straight turnovers; however, once the Roadrunners limited the turnovers, they couldn't put the ball in the basket. UTSA did not make a field goal until 14:58 was left in the first half; and, in fact, the Roadrunners made only 11 of 40 from the field (27.5%) in the first half combined with just 33.3% (3 for 9) from the foul line.
Rice led only 33-26 at halftime because of 16 first half turnovers.
Smart nailed a three-point shot to cap off a 12 to 4 Rice run to start the second half which gave the Owls a 45-30 lead at the 15:52 mark of the half. UTSA scored six straight points to cut the Owls lead to nine points; however, five different Owls players (including three bench players) scored during a 16 to 5 run to put the Owls ahead by 20 (61-41) with 7:31 remaining in the game.
The Roadrunners answered with one final push and turned up the full-court defense to cut the lead in half (63-53); however, Smart settled her teammates down and Rice scored the final seven points of the game from the foul line.
"I definitely think confidence is huge," Smart said." When we're knocking down shots and finishing out games, even when we were up by about 17 (actually 20 points); and, they came back and closed the lead to about down to 10, we stayed composed. We knew we still had the game in our hands."
The Owls finished the game shooting 41.1% (23 for 56) from the field overall; however, the team was 8 for 17 from behind the three-point line.
"We're shooting the ball pretty well," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "We're 25 for 49 the last three games from three.
"We had five different players make a three. Four in double-figures. Great balance."
UTSA (6-6) was led by Judy Jones' 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The Owls start Conference USA play this Friday with a road game versus Texas-El Paso. Tip is set for 8 p.m.
Despite 25 turnovers, the Owls controlled much of the action throughout the ball game and were never seriously challenged in the second half. The Owls have won six of seven after beginning the season 0 and 6.
"We knew we were better than that," said Owls' forward Megan Elliott. "And, we just couldn't seem to find our rhythm in games. Now, that we found it, I think we can be incredible."
Rice (6-7) was led by sophomore point guard D'Frantz Smart's near triple-double. Smart scored a team-high 18 points (6 for 12 from the field, including 2 for 4 on threes); pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds; and dished out seven assists in 37 minutes of work.
Megan Elliott led a very solid effort by the Owls' bench players with 15 points (4 for 7 from the field, 1 for 1 on threes); eight boards; two assitsts; and 1 steal. The Owls' reserves combined for 21 points and 16 rebounds.
The Owls led 5-0 for nearly three minutes as both teams struggled. UTSA's started the game with three straight turnovers; however, once the Roadrunners limited the turnovers, they couldn't put the ball in the basket. UTSA did not make a field goal until 14:58 was left in the first half; and, in fact, the Roadrunners made only 11 of 40 from the field (27.5%) in the first half combined with just 33.3% (3 for 9) from the foul line.
Rice led only 33-26 at halftime because of 16 first half turnovers.
Smart nailed a three-point shot to cap off a 12 to 4 Rice run to start the second half which gave the Owls a 45-30 lead at the 15:52 mark of the half. UTSA scored six straight points to cut the Owls lead to nine points; however, five different Owls players (including three bench players) scored during a 16 to 5 run to put the Owls ahead by 20 (61-41) with 7:31 remaining in the game.
The Roadrunners answered with one final push and turned up the full-court defense to cut the lead in half (63-53); however, Smart settled her teammates down and Rice scored the final seven points of the game from the foul line.
"I definitely think confidence is huge," Smart said." When we're knocking down shots and finishing out games, even when we were up by about 17 (actually 20 points); and, they came back and closed the lead to about down to 10, we stayed composed. We knew we still had the game in our hands."
The Owls finished the game shooting 41.1% (23 for 56) from the field overall; however, the team was 8 for 17 from behind the three-point line.
"We're shooting the ball pretty well," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "We're 25 for 49 the last three games from three.
"We had five different players make a three. Four in double-figures. Great balance."
UTSA (6-6) was led by Judy Jones' 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The Owls start Conference USA play this Friday with a road game versus Texas-El Paso. Tip is set for 8 p.m.
posted by Kris G @ 11:15 PM
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