Rice suffers first loss of the season with 74-68 home loss to Middle Tennessee

POSTED: December 20, 2022 -- 4:18 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- Tuesday afternoon, the Rice Owls had uncharacteristic lapses on defenses in the second half which proved costly in the Owls' 74-68 loss to Middle Tennessee.

Rice is now 9-1 this season. Rice led Middle Tennessee 27-22 at halftime. Middle Tennessee made 8 of 24 field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes including 2 for 8 on three-point attempts.

The third quarter was a different story. Middle made 9 field goals in the quarter (14 attempts) including 3 for 5 from downtown. Rice trailed 47-45 after 3 quarters.

"Too many breakdowns," Rice Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds said of her team's second half defense. "I just didn't feel like we had the urgency in the first (quarter) and the second (quarter). We allowed too many mistakes.

"You're leaving shooters open when you make mistakes."

Rice sophomore Malia Fisher hit a 3 to begin the 4th quarter and put Rice back on top 48-47. After Middle Tennessee's Courtney Whitson scored a layup, Rice senior Ashlee Austin knocked another three-pointer for a 51-49 Rice lead. Destiny Jackson scored a layup to increase Rice's lead to 53-49 with 7:44 left in the ball game.

Rice's offense went cold and Middle Tennessee responded with an 11-0 run to lead 60-53. Austin (4), Fisher (2) and Destiny Jackson combined for 10 points during a 10-3 run to tie the game at 63 with 1:35 left in the contest.

Courtney Whitson sank 2 foul shots to break the tie; but, Malia Fisher answered with 2 made foul shots to tie the game at 65.

Alexis Whittingon hit a big 3-pointer to put Middle Tennessee on top 68-65 with 41 seconds left on the game clock. Fisher added 2 more free throws; but, Rice would not get closer than 68-67 the rest of the game.

Middle Tennessee guard Savannah Wheeler sank 4 free throws in the closing seconds to help seal the victory for Middle Tennessee.

"This one hurts," Coach Edmonds said. "I do like the fight that we showed in the fourth. I'm going to remember this feeling and I hope the players remember this feeling. We are going to enjoy a couple of days off for Christmas and get back to work so we don't feel this feeling too often."

Malia Fisher scored a team-high 18 points to lead Rice. Destiny Jackson added 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Ashlee Austin filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Freshman guard Dominique Ennis scored 11 points off the bench.

Kseniya Malashka led Middle Tennessee with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. Savannah Wheeler was next with 21 points. Courtney Whitson added 18 points and 7 boards.

In the second half, Middle Tennessee shot 16 for 28 (57.1%) from the floor including 5 for 11 on threes.

"They exploit your mistakes," Coach Edmonds commented. And, we, unfortunately, made some mistakes."

NEXT:

Rice hosts Western Kentucky on Thursday, December 29, at 7 p.m.

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