2/1/2025 | Women’s Basketball | Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. – A full team effort and a career day for Stefanie Ingram powered the Owls to a strong 66-61 win over the reigning American Athletic Conference tournament champion Rice Owls on Saturday at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
The Owls improve to 10-13 on the season and 2-8 in AAC play, while Rice falls to 12-10 and 5-5 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rice opened the game on an 8-2 run, but the Owls answered back off a jumper and a 3-pointer from Stefanie Ingram to battle back within one, 8-7, with all seven points courtesy of Ingram.
Rice tacked on two more to lead 10-7 at the opening media break. Lovisa Asbrink Hose brought the Owls back within one off a jumper, 10-9, with 4:14 to go in the first. Rice produced a 5-1 run to hold a 15-11 advantage, but Stefanie Ingram closed the first with her second 3-pointer of the day to make it a one-point game through one, 15-14.
After a Rice score to open the second, the Owls went on a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the contest at 20-17, sparking a Rice timeout. Rice went on a 4-0 run to retake the lead 22-20, but the Owls responded with a Kristina Godfrey 3-pointer and a jump shot from Jenks to take a 25-22 advantage with five minutes to play in the half. Rice retook the lead 27-25, but Florida Atlantic responded yet again on a 7-0 run to quickly lead by five, 32-27, with 1:58 to play in the half. Rice scored four unanswered to close the half, closing the Owls’ lead to just one at the halftime break, 32-31.
The Owls scored back-to-back baskets to open the second half, extending their lead to six, 37-31. Rice battled back off a 13-8 run to close back within one, 45-44, at the third-quarter media break. Florida Atlantic held a one-point lead, 47-46, through the 4:02 minute mark, however, the Owls closed the third on a 7-0 run following another Ingram 3-pointer and back-to-back buckets from Jada Moore to push their lead back to eight, 54-46, entering the final 10 minutes of play.
Rice opened the fourth with back-to-back scores to cut the Owls’ lead to three, 54-51, but Ingram’s fifth three-pointer of the day sparked another 7-0 Owl run to push the lead to double-figures, 61-51, sparking another Rice timeout. Maria Myklebust extended the Owls’ run to 10-0, knocking down her first 3-pointer of the day to give Florida Atlantic a 13-point lead, 64-51, with 3:04 to play. Rice tried to rally, outscoring the Owls 10-2 over the final three minutes of play, but it was too little too late as the Owls held on for the 66-61 win.
HEAD COACH JENNIFER SULLIVAN POSTGAME THOUGHTS
“Really just proud of this group. Obviously, a win is big, we needed a win, but proud of the way they did it. Just proud of them staying through and battling through during this stretch with losses. We continue to lean into each other, and I’m happy they got the reward.”
NOTES AND TEAM STATS
- Stefanie Ingram had a career day on Saturday, scoring a career-best 25 points, shooting 9-of-17 from the field, 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and going a perfect 2-of-2 at the line, while also adding a team-high five assists, five boards, and a steal.
- Ta’Ziah Jenks also had a day, scoring 14 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, in addition to two assists and a pair of rebounds.
- Alana Rouser had a huge day defensively for the Owls, tying a career-best 12 boards and tying for a game and career-high three steals.
- The Owls had one of their best offensive performances of the season, shooting a season-best 53.2 percent from the field and a season second-best 58.8 percent from 3-point range.
- Florida Atlantic won the second and third quarters, outscoring Rice 18-16 in the second and 22-15 in the third.
- The Owls outrebounded Rice 36-32, including a huge 30-19 advantage on the defensive glass.
- Florida Atlantic also held advantages in transition points, 11-5, and points off the bench, 16-11.
UP NEXT
The Owls head back on the road next week, kicking off a two-game road stretch on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Wichita State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET inside Charles Koch Arena.
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