FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 10 Rice took down No. 3 Temple, 60-57, in the semifinals of the 2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday, March 12 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the win, Rice (18-14) advances to play No. 9 East Carolina in the final on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. The Pirates defeated No. 4 UTSA, 55-54. The matchup for the final is between the two lowest seeds ever to advance to the Championship final.
Destiny Jackson made a crucial block with 47 seconds remaining to keep Rice in the lead, and then hit a jumper with 17 seconds to push the lead to four at 59-55. Temple’s Demi Washington cut the lead to two with four seconds remaining. Malia Fisher hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1.7 seconds left to push the lead to 60-57 and a buzzer-beating half court shot did not fall for Temple.
Rice used an 11-0 run in the third quarter to push the lead to 13 at 44-31 before Temple (17-14) clawed its way back in the fourth quarter.
Fished led Rice with 17 points, while Jackson added 16. Emily Klaczek had six points, but all six points came on critical second-half 3-pointers.
Washington led Temple with 19 points.
2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule
First Round | Saturday, March 9
Game 1: No. 13 Wichita State 64, No. 12 Florida Atlantic 50
Game 2: No. 14 Tulane 68, No. 11 SMU 62
Second Round | Sunday, March 10
Game 3: No. 9 East Carolina 65, No. 8 Memphis 63
Game 4: No. 5 South Florida 69, No. 13 Wichita State 62
Game 5: No. 10 Rice 71, No. 7 UAB 56
Game 6: No. 14 Tulane 65, No. 6 Charlotte 52
Quarterfinals | Monday, March 11
Game 7: No. 9 East Carolina 75, No. 1 Tulsa 71
Game 8: No. 4 UTSA 58, No. 5 South Florida 56
Game 9: No. 10 Rice 61, No. 2 North Texas 59
Game 10: No. 3 Temple 76, No. 14 Tulane 72 (3OT)
Semifinals | Tuesday, March 12
Game 11 – No. 9 East Carolina 55, No. 4 UTSA 54
Game 12 – No. 10 Rice 60, No. 3 Temple 57
Final | Wednesday, March 13
Game 13: Championship, No. 9 East Carolina vs. No. 10 Rice – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
