Houston Roundball Review Archive: December 2006 Marquette Defeats Owls 78 to 62

Sunday, December 3, 2006

Four games in eight (nine depending on how you count) days.

Playing a game less than 48 hours after one of the top wins in program history.

And, last but not least, facing a quality opponent.

Add those three factors and you get the result the Rice Owls received Sunday afternoon: a 78 to 62 loss to the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Rice struggled to make shots the entire game. The Owls shot a frigid 30.6% (11 for 36) in the opening 20 minutes and an even worse percentage (28.1%, 9 for 32) in the second half.

The Owls trailed 44 to 30 at halftime due 20 first half points from Marquette's Krystal Ellis and 58.1% (18 for 31) shooting.

Elllis was unstoppable in the first half. She penetrated the Owls defense at will and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the field.

Lauren Neaves scored the first three points of the second half; but, Marquette answered with a 14 to 5 run to put the Owls behind by 20 (58 to 38) with 14:16 remaining in the game.

Rice struggled with Marquette's solid half-court execution throughout the game; however, during the first half, the Owls couldn't stop the Golden Eagles from scoring in transition.

After the game, Neaves said she and her teammates had a "lack of focus and energy..." in the game.

To their credit, the Owls did not quit. With 5:37 left in the game, Marquette led 70 to 48; but, Rice scored 12 straight points in two and a half minutes to pull within 10 points with 3:11 remaining.

Owls' guard Krystal Frazier hit two three-pointers and a lay-up during the run.

Marquette maintained control and finished the game with the 12 point victory.

Owls' head coach Greg Williams described his team's performance as "real flat".

He was exactly right.

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