Adams Leads The Way With 17 As Women's Basketball Battles Rice To The End

Kaitlyn Adams scored a team-high 17 points, but Rice used a pair of first-half runs to pull away from Texas Southern in a 71-46 loss Thursday night.

TSU took an early 5-3 lead following a pair of baskets from Michaela Bogans, but the Owls responded with a 12-0 run to build a 15-5 advantage. Jayla Cornelius ended the scoring drought with a basket at the 3:46 mark, but Rice maintained its momentum and closed the opening quarter on a 10-5 run to take a 26-12 lead.

The TSU offense showed signs of life early in the second quarter as Marianah Mapour scored three quick points to trim the deficit to 28-16. Defensively, the Tigers limited Rice's offensive production compared to the opening quarter but struggled to capitalize on the other end. The Owls maintained control down the stretch and carried a 40-23 advantage into halftime.

Adams opened the second half with a basket to cut the deficit to 40-25. An offensive rebound by Bogans led to a Rice foul, and she converted both free throws to bring TSU within 13. The Tigers continued to battle defensively, forcing turnovers and creating second-chance opportunities. A free throw from Mapour trimmed the margin to 40-28 as TSU attempted to work its way back into the contest.

Rice went more than three minutes without a field goal to open the second half, scoring its first point of the third quarter at the free throw line. However, the Owls capitalized on consecutive missed opportunities by TSU and scored four quick points to extend their lead to 46-28 entering the first media timeout. Both teams increased their defensive intensity as the quarter progressed, but Rice maintained a 53-32 advantage entering the final period.

Adams opened the fourth quarter with a basket before Bailey Burns added another to spark the TSU offense. The Tigers forced a Rice turnover with eight minutes remaining and extended their run to 7-2 following another basket from Adams.

Rice answered with a three-pointer, but Adams responded with a trey of her own to pull TSU within 58-42. The Owls countered with an open three-pointer at the 5:22 mark and continued to answer each Texas Southern scoring surge down the stretch to secure the victory.

Adams led the Tigers with 17 points and five rebounds, while Bogans and Cornelius added seven points each. Adams and Mapour tied for the team lead with five rebounds apiece.

Texas Southern returns to action Sunday afternoon against Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.