Rice races past Techsters, 78-42

HOUSTON, Texas – Louisiana Tech had won its last two games at Tudor Fieldhouse but on Saturday afternoon, the Rice Owls made sure the Lady Techsters wouldn’t make it three in a row.

Erica Ogwumike and Nicole Iademarco each scored 18 points and Rice hit 13 three-pointers as the Owls defeated LA Tech 78-42 before 2,606 fans on senior day.

Tech (14-14, 6-9 C-USA) went scoreless for more than 10 minutes in the first half and shot just 27 percent from the field in the game in falling for the third straight contest.

A Kierra Anthony layup at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter cut the Rice lead to 5-4. However, Tech wouldn’t score again until Taylor Stahly hit a three-pointer with 5:50 to play in the second quarter. By then the Owls lead was more than 20.

“I’m disappointed in the way we played today,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “We had two great days of practice leading up to this, but it didn’t translate to the floor. We missed a number of open shots – shots that we have been making. Once they got up on us big, we just didn’t fight like I would want us to fight. Give Rice credit, there is a reason they have won 17 straight games. They played well today. They shot it well.”

Rice hit 13-of-22 three-pointers in the game and shot 54 percent from the field for the game. The Owls outrebounded Tech 45-25.

Ogwumike recorded a double double, adding 14 rebounds to her 18-pont effort, while Iademarco connected on six three-pointers. Nancy Mulkey added 11 points and Lauren Grigsby scored 12 points for the Owls, who are ranked 24^th in the country in this week’s Top 25 poll.

Grayson Bright led Tech with 8 points and 7 rebounds. Anthony scored six points, snapping a string of 28 straight games in double figures.

Tech will close out the regular season Thursday when