Owls Stop SMU
HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice committed 21 turnovers; shot under 35 percent from the field; but, still managed to defeat the SMU Mustangs 61-58 Thursday night in front of 389 fans gathered inside the friendly confines of Tudor Fieldhouse.
Despite the turnovers and the poor shooting, the Owls never trailed in the ball game.
Rice (9-10 overall, 3-3 in C-USA) jumped on the Mustangs early and led SMU (14-5, 4-2) 24-7 with 8:29 remaining in the first half.
"We did get off to a great start," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "We let them up a couple of times; and, we fought them off."
SMU couldn't do anything right on offense. The Mustangs shot 3 for 16 from the field during the opening 10 plus minutes; however, once senior guard Jillian Samuels made a three-point shot, the Mustangs offense began percolatings signs of life while the Owls' offense was bogging down.
The Owls led 33-23 at halftime.
The Mustangs crept back into the ball game thanks to senior guard Brittany Gilliam's 18 second half points. Gilliam shot 2 for 14 in the first half; but, she bounced back and made six of eight shot attempts in the second half.
However, each time SMU inched closer, the Owls would pick up a key rebound to continue an offensive possession then nail a three-point bucket to stretch the lead once again.
Gilliam made a three to trim the Owls' lead to 40-36; but, after D'Frantz Smart made two free throws, Gilliam turned over the ball; and, Rice picked up two offensive rebounds which led to a deep three-point basket by Smart to make the score, 45-36, Rice at the 11:45 mark of the second half.
The Mustangs pulled within three points (46-43); but, the Owls answered with a 9-0 run to lead 55-43 with 4:57 left in the ball game.
However, the Owls committed three turnovers down the stretch which allowed the Gilliam and the Mustangs to outscore the Owls 11-1. SMU cranked up the full-court pressure; but, Smart passed the ball to a wide open Goswitz; and Goswitz, made the layup for an easy two points for a 59-54 lead with just 25 seconds remaining in the game.
SMU's Samantha Mahnesmith split two free throws; but, the Mustangs grabbed the offensive rebound and Gilliam swished a three-point bucket to trim the Owls lead to just one point (59-58) with five seconds on the clock.
SMU pressured the Owls once more; but, once again, the Owls beat the pressure and Tara Watts passed the ball to a wide open Goswitz down the court for a lay-up.
SMU had a chance to tie the game at 61; but, Haley Day's three-point shot was off the mark.
"They made some adjustments and trapped the ball late," Coach Williams said. "But, I thought we made two key plays, obviously, to get lay-ups when they were trapping and scrambling all over the floor. That's something we did not do very well last year."
Goswitz led the Owls with 15 points (5 for 10 from the field, including 3 for 5 on threes). Watts and Smart each scored 11 points. Smart added eight assists; six rebounds; and two steals. Shorty also committed seven turnovers.
The Owls out rebounded the Mustangs 49 to 40 including 16 to 12 on the offensive glass.
"I think we just wanted it more tonight," Goswitz said. "It's between you and the person guarding you. It's who wants the ball more and that's what happened tonight."
The Owls host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Despite the turnovers and the poor shooting, the Owls never trailed in the ball game.
Rice (9-10 overall, 3-3 in C-USA) jumped on the Mustangs early and led SMU (14-5, 4-2) 24-7 with 8:29 remaining in the first half.
"We did get off to a great start," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "We let them up a couple of times; and, we fought them off."
SMU couldn't do anything right on offense. The Mustangs shot 3 for 16 from the field during the opening 10 plus minutes; however, once senior guard Jillian Samuels made a three-point shot, the Mustangs offense began percolatings signs of life while the Owls' offense was bogging down.
The Owls led 33-23 at halftime.
The Mustangs crept back into the ball game thanks to senior guard Brittany Gilliam's 18 second half points. Gilliam shot 2 for 14 in the first half; but, she bounced back and made six of eight shot attempts in the second half.
However, each time SMU inched closer, the Owls would pick up a key rebound to continue an offensive possession then nail a three-point bucket to stretch the lead once again.
Gilliam made a three to trim the Owls' lead to 40-36; but, after D'Frantz Smart made two free throws, Gilliam turned over the ball; and, Rice picked up two offensive rebounds which led to a deep three-point basket by Smart to make the score, 45-36, Rice at the 11:45 mark of the second half.
The Mustangs pulled within three points (46-43); but, the Owls answered with a 9-0 run to lead 55-43 with 4:57 left in the ball game.
However, the Owls committed three turnovers down the stretch which allowed the Gilliam and the Mustangs to outscore the Owls 11-1. SMU cranked up the full-court pressure; but, Smart passed the ball to a wide open Goswitz; and Goswitz, made the layup for an easy two points for a 59-54 lead with just 25 seconds remaining in the game.
SMU's Samantha Mahnesmith split two free throws; but, the Mustangs grabbed the offensive rebound and Gilliam swished a three-point bucket to trim the Owls lead to just one point (59-58) with five seconds on the clock.
SMU pressured the Owls once more; but, once again, the Owls beat the pressure and Tara Watts passed the ball to a wide open Goswitz down the court for a lay-up.
SMU had a chance to tie the game at 61; but, Haley Day's three-point shot was off the mark.
"They made some adjustments and trapped the ball late," Coach Williams said. "But, I thought we made two key plays, obviously, to get lay-ups when they were trapping and scrambling all over the floor. That's something we did not do very well last year."
Goswitz led the Owls with 15 points (5 for 10 from the field, including 3 for 5 on threes). Watts and Smart each scored 11 points. Smart added eight assists; six rebounds; and two steals. Shorty also committed seven turnovers.
The Owls out rebounded the Mustangs 49 to 40 including 16 to 12 on the offensive glass.
"I think we just wanted it more tonight," Goswitz said. "It's between you and the person guarding you. It's who wants the ball more and that's what happened tonight."
The Owls host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
posted by Kris G @ 10:49 PM
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