Jan. 5, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

D'Frantz Smart scored 22 points and Maudess Fulton poured in 20 as the Rice Owls women's basketball team defeated George Washington 78-68 at Tudor Fieldhouse to pick up its fifth win of the season (5-8). GW was led by Jessica Adair's game-high 26 points as the Colonials drop to 7-7.

Fulton scored 11 of Rice's first 13 points as the Owls staked and early 13-9 lead. The Owls shot 54.5 percent in scoring a season-high 44 points in the first-half to a take a 44-28 lead into the locker room.

The Colonials fought back and whittled the deficit to 72-68 on a basket by Adair with 1:54 remaining, but Morgan Mayse answered with a three-pointer from the top of the key to squelch the GW come back. Smart then closed out the game by making three of four free throws.

Also in double-digits for Rice was Tara Watts with 14 points. Mayse tallied 9 points and led the Owls with 10 rebounds. Rice shot a season-best 46 percent from the field and turned the ball over a season-low 13 times.

Smart also had 6 assists and only 1 turnover for the game.

Erica Rivera (11 points) and Jazmine Adair (10 points) were also in double-digit scoring for the Colonials.

Rice now plays at UTEP on Friday at 8 p.m. (Central) and at Tulane on Sunday (2 p.m. Central) to begin Conference USA action. The Owls' next home game is on Jan. 16 vs. Memphis at 7 p.m.