Rice Owls erase 14 point, 4th quarter deficit to defeat Texas Southern 76-71

November 20, 2018 -- 11:49 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice Owls and the Texas Southern Lady Tigers played a very exciting basketball game Tuesday night inside Tudor Fieldhouse. Texas Southern led 63-49 with 8 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter; however, the Owls finished the game with a 27-8 run to earn the 76-71 win.

"I'm really proud of the fight of our team," Rice Head Coach Tina Langley said after the game. "We continued to battle on the defensive end of the floor. Texas Southern came out and played a great game. (Texas Southern Head Coach Johnetta (Hayes) does a tremendous job with her team. They took it to us, but I love how our team responded and the fight and execution we showed late in the game was something I'm really proud of."

Rice (2-2) led Texas Southern (1-2) 37-35 at halftime. Both teams got hot from three-point range in the second quarter: Rice made 5 of 10 three-point attempts while TSU made 3 of 6 threes. Olivia Cunningham scored team-high 9 points for TSU. Erica Ogwumike and Haylee Swayze each scored 9 points for Rice.

Texas Southern dominated the third quarter. TSU outscored the Owls 20-12 in the third period. The Owls only made 1 field goal attempt in the quarter; however, Rice shot 10 for 14 from the foul line in the third.

TSU led 55-49 after three quarters. TSU scored the first 8 points in the fourth quarter to lead 63-49 with 7 minutes and 48 seconds remaining in the ball game.

Rice began the comeback with two made free throws by senior Lauren Grigsby. Next, Grigsby made a three-point shot. Then, redshirt senior Shani Rainey split two free throws before freshman Jasmine Smith sank a three-point shot for a 9-0 run in two minutes and 8 seconds.

Olivia Cunningham sank two foul shots to end TSU's scoreless drought; but, Grigsby nailed another three-point basket to trim Texas Southern's lead to 65-61 with 4:44 remaining in the game.

The teams exchanged a steal and a turnover before Olivia Cunningham sank a jump shot in the paint for a 67-61 TSU lead. Jasmine Smith sank two more foul shots for Rice; and, TSU's Niya Mitchell scored a driving lay-up for a 69-63 lead. However, Rice scored 7 straight points in a 50-second span to lead 70-69 with 1:50 on the game clock.

Texas Southern committed a turnover on its possession; then, once again, Jasmine Smith sank two foul shots to help the Owls increase its lead to 72-69 with 48 seconds left in the game.

After a 30-second timeout, Texas Southern's Marquia Turner sank a jumper in the paint to trim Rice's lead to 72-71 with 31 seconds on the clock.

Texas Southern was forced to foul; and, Erica Ogwumike, C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, swished both foul shots for a 74-71 lead.

Texas Southern called timeout to set up a play. After the timeout, Brenae Andrews missed a jump shot which forced the Lady Tigers to foul once again.

Erica Ogwumike made both foul shots to cap off the scoring.

76-71, Rice. Final score.

Erica Ogwumike finished the game with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jasmine Smith and Lauren Grigsby each scored 16. Texas Southern was led by Marquia Turner's 21 points. Brenae Andrews scored 16 and Olivia Cunningham scored 15. Rice shot 23 for 32 from the foul line (21/27 in the 2nd half). Texas Southern shot 8 free throws in the game and made six.

"I thought our kids played a pretty decent game for 30, 32 minutes," Coach Johnetta Hayes said after the game. "We had some shortcomings defensively. Missing assignments down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Rice did a good job making us pay for it.

Coach Hayes continued, "We have some areas we need to grow; and, this kind of help us, hopefully, get prepared for our next opponent which is Nicholls State."

NEXT

Rice's next game is a home game Friday, November 23, versus Georgia State. Tip is set for 2 p.m.

Texas Southern's next game is Friday, November 23, in El Paso, Texas, versus Nicholls State. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time.

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