POSTED: December 29, 2024 -- 5:58 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice Owls played good basketball the first three quarters of the Sunday matinee against South Florida. Unfortunately, for the Owls and Rice Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, women's college basketball is four quarters. Rice lost 74-64 to South Florida due to an awful final 10 minutes.

Rice (7-6 overall, 0-1 in the American Athletic Conference) led South Florida (8-6, 1-0) 56-50 heading to the fourth quarter.

South Florida starting center L'or Mputu started the scoring in the 4th with a second-chance layup. After a turnover by Rice and a foul, USF forward Romi Levy made 2 free throws.

Next, Rice senior forward Malia Fisher missed a 3-point attempt and USF point guard Mama Dembele raced up the court and scored a layup to tie the game at 56.

Timeout, Rice. Eighty-three seconds into the final period.

Coach Edmonds said after the game, "We said in the huddle, They (USF) have had their run. Let's get it back."

After Rice's timeout, the Owls committed another turnover and missed another jump shot. USF forward Sammie Puisis swished a three-point shot extend the Bulls' run to 9-0 and put USF on top 59-56 with less than 8 minutes remaining.

Rice's starting point guard Victoria Flores missed a layup; and, USF capitalized with a made layup by Romi Levy.

One more Rice turnover led to another second-chance layup by L'or Mputu and just like that Rice trailed 63-56 with 6:20 to go in the 4th quarter.

USF blitzed Rice 13-0 in less than 4 minutes.

Rice didn't recover.

"They punched us in the mouth in the fourth," Coach Edmonds said after the game. "We just didn't respond the way we did the first three quarters."

Rice shot 2 for 10 from the floor and had 8 turnovers in the 4th.

Victoria Flores scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Owls. Flores shot 50 fg% (6 for 12) -- including 4 for 7 from three-point range -- and 75 ft% (6 for 8) from the line.

"I thought she (Flores) was incredible," Coach Edmonds commented. "I hope this gives her some confidence in leading our team moving forward."

"We're not going to win a lot of ball games playing three quarters," Coach Edmonds lamented. "Hopefully, we can make that adjustment on a quick turnaround. We've got to get ready for Tulane on the road."

NEXT:

Rice's next game is Wednesday, January 1, on the road, against Tulane. Tip is scheduled for 2 pm CT on ESPN+.

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