Rainey leads Rice over Prairie View

Posted: November 11, 2016 -- 10:08 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice Owls' Big Three of Shani Rainey (20 points); Jasmine Goodwine (17 points); and Maya Hawkins (15 points) combined for 52 points in the Owls' 68-57 win over the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers.

Rainey's 20 points occurred in 25 points. Rainey made 8 of her 12 field goal attempts and also snared 8 rebounds.

After the game, the junior guard said she believes the Owls have begun to established a firm culture under second-year head coach Tina Langley.

The Owls (1-0 overall) led Prairie View 21-15 at the end of the first quarter. Goodwine scored 7 points in the opening 10 minutes while Rainey added 6 and Hawkins scored 5. The Owls shot 46.2% (6 for 13 field goals) in the quarter; however, 7 turnovers limited the Owls' scoring opportunities.

Hawkins scored 8 points in the second quarter as the Owls used a 12-2 run to lead PV 33-21 with 3:42 remaining in the first half.

Rice took a 38-24 lead into halftime.

Rainey nailed a three-point bucket and the Owls stretched the lead to 22 points (52-30) with 5:05 left in the third quarter. However, a few Owls' turnovers plus fouls allowed Prairie View to outscore the Owls 12-4 in the final five minutes of the quarter.

The Owls led 56-42 after three quarters.

Goodwine and Rainey each scored a lay-up to in the first 90 seconds of the fourth quarter to boost the Owls' lead to 16 points. Rainey's basket at the 8:35 mark of the quarter was the last basket the Owls scored for nearly seven minutes.

During the field goal drought, the Lady Panthers finally gained some rhythm on offense and outscored Rice  11-2 during a three-minute burst to get within 7 points (62-55) with 3:25 left.

Both teams traded missed shots; turnovers; and fouls for the next 2 plus minutes. Then, with 1:14 on the clock, Rice Owls freshman Tayler Bennett scored a lay-up to end the scoring drought and give the Owls a nine point lead. The Lady Panthers did not get closer than eight points during the final moments of the game.

Maya Hawkins finished the game with 15 points; 7 rebounds; and 8 assists.

The Owls' next game is November 16, on the road, against LSU. 

CLICK HERE for The HRR's NCAAW write-ups.