Feb. 23, 2013

Marshall Thundering Herd (9-16, 3-9 C-USA) at Rice Owls (11-14, 3-9 C-USA)

Game 26 • Sunday, Feburary 24, 2013 • 2 p.m.

Houston, Texas • Tudor Fieldhouse (5,750)
Audio: RiceOwls.com • TV: None

Series Record: Rice leads 4-3

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The Last Meeting

Rice	57
Marshall	65	(11-11)

February 2, 2012
Huntington, W.Va.

Marshall Holds On to Beat Rice 65-57 Marshall posted four players in double-digit scoring to defeat the Rice Owls 65-57 in a Conference USA women's basketball game held inside the Cam Henderson Center Thursday night.

Recap | Box Score

 

Rice Looks For Second Consecutive Win As Marshall Visits

The Owls host Marshall in Tudor Fieldhouse, after defeating UCF 66-49 on Thursday. The Owls shot 72.7% percent in the second half against UCF on the way to victory. This is the final Sunday game at Tudor Fieldhouse this season.

Briefly On The Owls

• The Owls shot 72.7% in the second half in their 66-49 victory over UCF

• Rice has made 16 consecutive free throws as a team dating back to Feb. 17

• Rice has shot 100% from the line in two of the last three games, including 13-for-13 on Feb. 21, the second-highest attempts without a miss in school history

• Jessica Kuster is the only player in C-USA and one of 36 players nationally to be averaging a double double

• Kuster is one of eight players nationally to have averaged a double double in 2010-11, 2011-12 and to currently be averaging a double double in 2012-13. Kuster and Middle Tennessee's Ebony Rowe are the only two juniors on that list.

• Jessica Goswitz is shooting 40.0 percent (10-of-25) on 3-pointers since Feb. 3

• The Owls' typical starting unit of Goswitz, Maduka, Kuster, Porter and Palmer outscores their opponents by an average of 3.6 points per 40 minutes

Rice vs. Marshall

Rice and Marshall have met each other once each year since 2005-06, with the home team winning every single meeting of the series. The Owls won the last matchup in Tudor Fieldhouse by a 52-39 count. Rice won consecutive games in the series from 2009-10 to 2010-11, when C-USA changed scheduling formats, which resulted in the Owls hosting Marshall in consecutive years.

Rice Excels Late In Knight-Owl Matchup

Rice shot 72.7 percent (16-22) in the second half against UCF, going on a 20-2 run at the start the period and outscore UCF 46-26 in the second half as the Owls beat UCF 66-49 on Feb. 21. The Owls hit 3-of-4 3-pointers and 11-of-11 free throws in that second half. The 20-2 run started after the Knights scored the first basket of the half at 19:51, and extended until 10:56 of the half.

Owls With Second-Best Free Throw Effort

Rice made all 13 free throws it attempted on Feb. 21, marking the second-most attempts without a miss in school history. The Owls went 16-of-16 from the line against Southern Illinois on Nov. 28, 1998. The Owls have made their last 16 free throws, dating back to Feb. 17. The Owls also went 4-of-4 from the line on Feb. 14 against Tulane.

Double Digits At Home

Rice has won 10 home games for the first time since 2009-10, and for the 10th time in school history. With a home win, the Owls would tie the most home wins since an 11-win home season in 2006-07.

Autry Army

Rice is 36-18 since 2009-10 at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls were 13-3 at home in the calendar year of 2012 and 10-4 in the 2012-13 season.

First Unit Prowess

The grouping of Jessica Goswitz, Nakachi Maduka, Jessica Kuster, Christal Porter and Megan Palmer have started 22 games for the Owls, and have played together for 253 minutes this season. That unit has outscored its opponents by 3.6 points per 40 minutes (63.8 to 60.2) while on the court this season.