BYU COUGARS || 5-1, 0-0 || Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE || With a win, the Cougars would avenge their 2023 loss in the opening round of the WNIT to the Owls who knocked out BYU in Coach Whiting’s first postseason appearance
TWO TROPICAL TRIPS || BYU looks to continue its tropical success as the Cougars went 2-0 at the North Shore Showcase in Oahu, Hawaii last season. BYU took down Wake Forest 67-44 and Saint Louis 87-66 as part of a 6-0 start to the 2022-23 campaign.
COUGAR ASSIST CLUB || BYU has assisted on 99-of-159 (.623) made field goals this season and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in four of six games this season. Against the McNeese Cowgirls, the Cougars had five players with 11+ points, a feat that only occurred twice last season.
REBOUNDING BY COMMITTEE || Last season, Lauren Gustin accounted for nearly 40 percent of all rebounds (504 of 1,294). This season, Whiting leads BYU in rebounding through four games, but only accounts for 16 percent of the Cougars' 237 boards. In the win over McNeese, five players grabbed at least four rebounds – Gibb (7), Barber (7), Hudgins (5), Whiting (5), Calvert (4) – with three others grabbing two.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 37-35 || 3rd Season
- Record at BYU: 37-35 || 3rd Season
RICE OWLS || 4-2, 0-0 || The American
SCORING BY COMMITTEE || Rice has eight players that average at least 5.7 points per game with four sitting at 8.2 or more per game. Of the eight 5+ per game scorers, four shoot over 40 percent from the field making the Owls a difficult team to scout.
CONFERENCE HONORS FOR ENNIS || Dominique Ennis earned American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention (11/18) recognition after leading Rice to a 3-0 week. Ennis averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Ennis is the leading scorer for the Owls at 11.8 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting. On the season, the junior guard is also pulling in 3.5 rebounds, dishing 1.5 assists and swipes 1.3 steals per game.
REIGNING AAC CHAMPS || Rice debuted in the AAC as Champions, winning four games in four days, to claim the first-ever AAC 3.7 title in Rice Athletics history. Led by AAC Third Team selection and 63.2 All-Tournament MVP Malia Fisher, Rice took down East Carolina 61-41 to become the lowest seed (10) to ever win the AAC 38.8 Tournament.
LEADING DOWN THE STRETCH || Rice has been nearly unbeatable when leading with five minutes left in the game under Coach Edmonds. When leading with five minutes left in the game, Rice is 54-6. When tied or trailing with five minutes left, the Owls are 6-32.
Head Coach – Lindsay Edmonds
- Alma Mater: Appalachian State, 2005
- Career Record: 60-39 || 4th Season
- Record at Rice: 60-39 || 4th Season
