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Malia Fisher's 18 points and 20 rebounds helps Rice Top SFA, 89-77

POSTED: November 11, 2022 -- 8:19 a.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice Owls topped Stephen F. Austin 89-77 Thursday night in a physical, hard fought basketball game. Rice sophomore Malia Fisher led Rice with a sensational 18 points, 20 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots.

Fisher became the sixth player in school history with a game of at least 20 rebounds and the first since Rice legend Jessica Kuster had 21 versus Southern on November 21, 2013, and missed matching her career-high in points by just two. Fisher's dominant double-double Thursday night is her ninth double-double in 28 career games.

After the game, Fisher said she didn't keep a mental note of how many rebounds she had during the game.

"My eyes are locked in on the ball," Fisher acknowledged. "My teammates do their job: boxing out their man; so, I can go in and get the rebound for the team.

"Group effort. It's not just my rebound. They're team rebounds."

Fisher grabbed 5 boards in the first quarter and scored 6 points (2 for 4 field goals). The Owls (1-0) were called for 8 fouls in the opening period. SFA was whistled for six fouls. The fourteen fouls in the first quarter was a sign of things to come the rest of the game. A total of 53 fouls were called in the game.

Rice led 25-22 at the end of the first period. The Owls struggled from the foul line in the second quarter: Rice attempted 14 free throws in the second quarter but made just 7. The 50% foul shooting limited Rice from increasing its lead in the quarter. Rice scored 16 in the quarter while SFA scored only 13 points in the quarter.

Rice led 41-35 at halftime. Fisher posted a 10 points and 10 rebounds double-double in the first half.

The Owls led by as much 10 points three times in the third quarter. Rice freshman Jazzy Owens-Barnett made a three-pointer with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter for a 54-44 Owls' lead; but, SFA responded with a 14-6 run to close the quarter and cut Rice's lead to 60-58 heading to the fourth period.

SFA tied the game at 60 and at 62. Rice led 66-64 with 7:30 on the clock when Shelby Hayes, Rice freshman post player, grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a layup. Fisher answered with a layup off a turnover. Sophomore Maya Bokunewicz scored back-to-back baskets to boost Rice's lead to 74-64 before sophomore Trinity Gooden banged in a three-pointer to cap an 11-0 run for a 77-64 Rice lead with 4:12 remaining in the game.

Rice stretched the margin to 14 twice in the closing minutes. Fisher snared her 20th board with 56 seconds left in the game.

"I'm so proud of this team," Lindsay Edmonds, Rice Head Coach said after the game. "That's a really good basketball team that we just played and they're going to win a lot of basketball games. But I think it just goes to show how talented we are, how deep we are and how good I think we can be this season again. I'm just so proud of our team for the toughness that they had tonight. We withstood some of their runs, and we punched right back and I'm just, I'm just so proud of this team."

Fisher's 18 points led four Owls in double-digit scoring. Senior guard Destiny Jackson scored 15. Maya Bokunewicz was next with 14 and freshman guard Dominique Ennis added 2 points on 4 for 5 three-point shooting.

Rice's reserves outscored SFA's reserves 34-19 in the game.

"Our depth definitely helped us," Coach Edmonds remarked after the game. "I'm not sure they (SFA) were as effective as our bench was.

"It's really nice having a lot of quality players that can step in and step up when their number is called."

NEXT:

Rice hosts Abilene Christian on Sunday, November 13. Tip is set for 2 p.m., on CUSAtv.


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