American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Release - March 20

OWLS CLAIM AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

In their first season in the league, the Rice Owls won four games in four days to win the American Athletic Conference Championship and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 10 seed, the Owls are the lowest seeded team to win the tournament on either the men’s or women’s side. It marks the first time since 2019 that Rice will be playing in the Big Dance. Rice earned the 14 seed and will travel to Baton Rouge to take on three seed LSU on Friday, March 22 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on ESPN.

FISHER NAMED MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Rice junior forward Malia Fisher helped power the Owls to four straight wins to claim The American Championship. Fisher averaged 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds throughout the tournament, which included a 20-point game to open the tournament against UAB.

AMERICAN TEAMS IN POSTSEASON PLAY

Along with Rice, four other American squads will be participating in postseason play. Tulsa and North Texas both earned bids to the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), with Tulsa earning the automatic bid and the No. 3 seed. The Golden Hurricane will take on Arkansas on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+. The Mean Green will travel to three-seed TCU on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with the game airing on ESPN+.

UAB and UTSA both accepted invites to the WNIT presented by Triple Crown Sports. UAB will travel to Southern Miss on Wednesday at 7 p.m., while UTSA will host Northern Colorado on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.. Both games will air on ESPN+.

2024 NCAA DIVISION I

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

FRIDAY, MARCH 22 | FIRST ROUND

(14) Rice at (3) LSU (ESPN)____________________ 4 p.m.

Baton Rouge, La.

2024 NCAA DIVISION I

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL INVITATION TOURNAMENT

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 | FIRST ROUND

(3) Tulsa vs Arkansas (ESPN+)_________________ 7:30 p.m.

Tulsa, Okla.

North Texas at (3) TCU) (ESPN+)________________ 7:30 p.m.

Fort Worth, Texas