FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 9 seed Rice defeated No. 8 seed UAB, 76-63, in the second round of the 2025 American Women’s Basketball Championship Sunday afternoon, March 9, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the win, the Owls (15-16) advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 1 seed and American regular-season champion UTSA on Monday, March 10 at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT on ESPN+. UAB fell to 16-15 on the season.
Rice improved to 5-0 in American Women’s Basketball Championship contests and has been the lower seed in all five games. The Owls went 4-0 on the way to winning the 2024 Championship.
After being tied at 15 after one quarter, Rice outscored the Blazers, 21-13, in the second to take a 36-28 halftime lead. In the second half, the closest UAB came was within two points twice in third quarter before the lead grew to as many as 17 in the fourth.
Aniah Alexis led the Owls with 18 points, while Dominque Ennis recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Jade Weathersby scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Blazers.
2025 American Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule
(All Rounds Except First Round Played at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas)
First Round | Saturday, March 8 | Super Pit in Denton, Texas
Game 1: No. 12 Charlotte 55, No. 13 Florida Atlantic 51 | Box Score | Postgame Notes | Highlights
Second Round | Sunday, March 9
Game 2: No. 9 Rice 76, No. 8 UAB 63
Game 3: No. 12 Charlotte vs No. 5 Tulsa – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 4: No. 10 Memphis vs No. 7 East Carolina – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 5: No. 11 Wichita State vs No. 6 Tulane – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Quarterfinals | Monday, March 10
Game 6: No. 9 Rice vs No. 1 UTSA – 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN+
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs No. 4 Temple – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs No. 2 North Texas – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs No. 3 South Florida – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Semifinals | Tuesday, March 11
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs Game 7 Winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 11: Game 8 Winner vs Game 9 Winner – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Final | Wednesday, March 12
Game 12: Game 10 Winner vs Game 11 Winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU and ESPN+
