FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 10 Rice survived a last-second 3-point attempt and took down No. 2 North Texas, 61-59, in the quarterfinals of the 2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship on Monday, March 11 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the win, the Owls (17-14) move on to the semifinals in their first American Championship appearance and will face the winner of No. 14 Tulane and No. 3 Temple on Tuesday, March 12 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
It is the first time in American Championship history that both of the top two seeds have not advanced to the semifinal round. The Owls became the first No. 10 seed to make the semifinals, the lowest seed to do so.
Destiny Jackson drove to the basket and gave the Owls the lead, 60-59, on a layup with 41 seconds left. Jazzy Owens-Barnett made 1-of-2 free throws with 2.7 seconds left to push the lead to 61-59. After a timeout, North Texas’ Jaaucklyn Moore had an open 3-pointer that fell in and out as the buzzer sounded.
Jackson led all scorers with 16 points for the Owls, while Emily Klaczek added 13 points, including three from behind the arc.
Dyani Robinson led four Mean Green players in double figures with 15 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. 14 Tulane vs. No. 3 Temple – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Semifinals | Tuesday, March 12
Game 11 – No. 9 East Carolina vs. No. 4 UTSA – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 12 – No. 10 Rice vs. Game 10 winner – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Final | Wednesday, March 13
Game 13: Championship, Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
