WBB wins conference tournament, clinches spot in March Madness
Rice women’s basketball is headed to March Madness for the first time since 2019 after winning the American Athletic Conference tournament in their first year in the conference.
As the tenth seed in the AAC tournament, the Owls played four games in four days. Rice defeated ninth seed ECU 61-41 in the AAC Championship on March 13 at Dickies Arena.
Rice’s most recent appearance in a conference tournament final was on March 13, 2021, exactly three years earlier, as a member of Conference USA.
The Owls took control early against ECU with an 18-3 first quarter. They were up by 17 at the half, 34-17. From there, they kept a double-digit lead for most of the second half. Four players were in double digits, with junior center Sussy Ngulefac leading with 15 points. Junior guard Emily Klaczek had 14 points, junior forward Malia Fisher had 13 and fifth-year guard Destiny Jackson finished with 10.
Earlier in the tournament, Rice beat the University of Alabama at Birmingham 71-56, the University of North Texas 61-59 and Temple University 60-57. Rice had lost to all three of those teams in their last meetings during the regular season. However, Rice went undefeated against ECU, beating them 80-67 in January and 75-57 in February.
ESPN will broadcast the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket on March 17 at 7 p.m. Rice’s championship win guarantees them a spot on the bracket. The women’s tournament will begin on March 20.
More from The Rice Thresher
Rice welcomes 7.8% of applicants to class of 2029
Rice accepted 2,852 applicants to the class of 2029 March 26, said Yvonne Romero, vice president for enrollment. This represents 7.8% of 36,777, the highest acceptance rate since 2022.
Neurologist Huda Zoghbi announced as commencement speaker
Huda Zoghbi was announced to be the speaker for Rice’s 122th commencement, March 26. Zoghbi is a professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine.
Out with the old, in with the new
Rice Athletics fired baseball head coach José Cruz Jr. on March 13, less than a month into the season. The baseball team was 2-14 and on a 10 game losing streak at the time of his firing. Just days later, Rice welcomed baseball veteran David Pierce to fill Cruz’s seat.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.