The Rice Owls are gearing up for a pivotal clash against the Memphis Tigers at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, and all signs point to an electrifying encounter. The Owls have been on a rollercoaster this season, but their recent performances suggest they're ready to take flight once more.

In their last outing on December 20th against the Houston Cougars, RICE showed both resilience and vulnerability. Despite a strong start with 19 points in the first quarter, they struggled in the second, managing only 9 points. However, they bounced back with another 19-point performance in the third quarter before closing out with 16 points. The final score of 63-71 may not have gone their way, but there were positives: an impressive free throw percentage of 87 and a solid contribution from inside the paint with 30 points.

Comparatively, RICE's showing against Prairie View A&M Panthers on December 16th was nothing short of dominant. An explosive first quarter saw them rack up 27 points and they never looked back from there. Their offensive prowess was on full display as they cruised to an emphatic victory with an overall field goal percentage of 42 and a remarkable three-point shooting at a rate of 43 percent.

Against Gonzaga Bulldogs earlier that month (December), RICE demonstrated tenacity despite facing a nationally ranked opponent. They put up an impressive fight scoring heavily from inside (48 points) while maintaining high efficiency from two-point range (56 percent). Although ultimately falling short by eight points (72-80), it's clear that when firing on all cylinders, RICE can compete with top-tier teams.

The upcoming game presents both challenge and opportunity for RICE. The Tigers will be no easy adversary; however, if past performances are any indication—especially considering their ability to score efficiently under pressure—the Owls have every chance to emerge victorious.

As we look ahead to February's face-off between these two teams, fans should expect RICE's offense to be sharp—capitalizing on turnovers and converting those opportunities into valuable points as they did against Prairie View A&M where they scored an impressive total off turnovers at twenty-four.

Defensively though is where RICE needs consistency; minimizing personal fouls which plagued them during previous games will be crucial for maintaining control throughout all four quarters.

Supporters eager for action can mark their calendars for February 21st when tip-off is scheduled at Elma Roane Fieldhouse in Memphis at local time zone equivalent of February 20th at eight o'clock PM Central Time (CT). Fans unable or preferring not to attend can catch live coverage through official broadcast partners ensuring not a moment is missed from what promises to be another thrilling chapter in women’s basketball this season.

Rice Owls - NCAA Women's Basketball - Opinion

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