2023–24 Rice Owls women's basketball team
{{Short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| sport = women's basketball
| year = 2023–24
| team = Rice Owls
| logo = Rice Owls logo.svg
| logo_size = 100
| conference = American Athletic Conference
| short_conf = AAC
| CoachRank =
| APRank =
| record = 19–15
| conf_record = 9–9
| head_coach = Lindsay Edmonds
| hc_year = 3rd
| asst_coach1 = Lakevia Boykin
| asst_coach2 = Nick Grant
| asst_coach3 = Danyelle Grant
| arena = Tudor Fieldhouse
| champion = AAC Tournament Champions
|tourney = NCAA tournament
| tourney_result = First Round
}}
{{2023–24 American Athletic Conference women's basketball standings}}
The 2023–24 Rice Owls women's basketball team represented Rice University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Owls, led by third-year head coach Lindsay Edmonds, played their home games at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas as first year members of the American Athletic Conference.
Previous season
The Owls finished the 2022–23 season 23–9, 13–7 in C-USA play to finish in third place.{{Cite news|url=https://conferenceusa.com/standings.aspx?standings=126|title=2022-23 Women's Basketball Standings|work=Conference USA|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}} As the #3 seed in the C-USA tournament and receiving a first-round bye, they were upset by #6 seed UTSA in the quarterfinals.{{Cite news|url=https://riceowls.com/news/2023/3/9/womens-basketball-owls-fall-late-to-utsa-in-c-usa-quarterfinal|title=Owls Fall Late to UTSA in C-USA Quarterfinal|work=Rice University Athletics|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}} They reieved an at-large bid into the WNIT, where they defeated BYU in the first round,{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/slow-start-spells-end-season-051418956.html|title=Slow start spells the end of the season for BYU in WNIT loss to Rice|work=Yahoo! News|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}} before falling to Oregon in the second round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2023/03/20/oregon-ducks-advance-to-wnit-super-16-with-rout-of-rice-owls/70030152007/|title=Oregon women keep rolling with rout of Rice to advance to WNIT Super 16|work=The Register-Guard|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}} This was the Owls' final season as members of Conference USA, as they moved to the American Athletic Conference effective July 1, 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://theamerican.org/news/2023/6/30/general-american-athletic-conference-welcomes-six-new-members.aspx|title=American Athletic Conference Welcomes Six New Members|work=American Athletic Conference|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|sex=w|year=2023|team=Rice Owls|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Malia|last=Fisher|num=1|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|class=jr|rs=|home=Dacula, Georgia|high_school=Hebron Christian Academy}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Emily|last=Klaczek|num=2|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=jr|rs=|home=Hoffman Estates, Illinois|high_school=UAB}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Pace|last=Rickard|num=4|pos=G|ft=5|in=6|class=fr|rs=|home=Grand Rapids, Michigan|high_school=Grand Rapids Christian High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Destiny|last=Jackson|num=5|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|class=sr|rs=|home=Mansfield, Texas|high_school=Mansfield Timberview High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Dominique|last=Ennis|num=11|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|class=so|rs=|home=Fort Erie, Ontario|high_school=King's Christian Collegiate}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Layla|last=Conley|num=12|pos=G|ft=5|in=8|class=fr|rs=|home=San Antonio, Texas|high_school=John Marshall Harlan High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Maya|last=Bokunewicz|num=14|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|class=jr|rs=|home=State College, Pennsylvania|high_school=State College Area High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Hailey|last=Adams|num=20|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|class=fr|rs=y|home=San Antonio, Texas|high_school=Tom C. Clark High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Kennedy|last=Clifton|num=23|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=0|class=so|rs=|home=Upper Marlboro, Maryland|high_school=Bishop Ireton High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Ashlyn|last=Zhang|num=24|pos=G|ft=5|in=7|class=so|rs=|home=South Pasadena, California|high_school=Flintridge Preparatory School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Jazzy|last=Owens-Barnett|num=30|pos=G|ft=5|in=7|class=so|rs=|home=Plano, Texas|high_school=Frisco Liberty High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Trinity|last=Gooden|num=32|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|class=jr|rs=|home=Midwest City, Oklahoma|high_school=Choctaw High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Fatou|last=Samb|num=33|pos=C|ft=6|in=4|class=sr|rs=|home=Houston, Texas|high_school=California}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Sussy|last=Ngulefac|num=35|pos=C|ft=6|in=3|class=jr|rs=|home=Lilburn, Georgia|high_school=Samford}}
{{CBB roster/Player|sex=w|first=Shelby|last=Hayes|num=44|pos=C|ft=6|in=2|class=so|rs=|home=Cedar Park, Texas|high_school=Cedar Park High School}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Lindsay Edmonds ({{college|Appalachian State}})
|asst_coach=
- Lakevia Boykin ({{college|Wake Forest}})
- Nick Grant ({{college|Baylor}})
- Danyelle Grant ({{college|Utah State}})
|roster_url=https://riceowls.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2023-24
|accessdate=December 15, 2023
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|rank=yes|gamehighs=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Rice Owls}}| Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 1, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Angelo State
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv =
| score = 101–47
| attend =
| record = –
| highscorer = Klaczek
| points = 26
| highrebounder = Samb
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 5
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Rice Owls}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 6, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Houston Christian
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 70–38
| attend = 622
| record = 1–0
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 14
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 9, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Abilene Christian
| site_stadium = Moody Coliseum
| site_cityst = Abilene, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–58
| attend = 1,040
| record = 2–0
| highscorer = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Fisher, Ennis}}
| points = 13
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Klaczek
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 12, 2023
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = TCU
| site_stadium = Schollmaier Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 42–67
| attend = 1,788
| record = 2–1
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 11
| highrebounder = Samb
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = {{tooltip|3 Tied|Jackson, Gooden, Hayes}}
| assists = 2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 16, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Georgia Tech
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 75–78
| attend = 1,088
| record = 2–2
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 13
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Hayes, Klaczek}}
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Klaczek
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 19, 2023
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Saint Mary's
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 73–62
| attend = 541
| record = 3–2
| highscorer = Bokunewicz
| points = 26
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Fisher
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 25, 2023
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Stephen F. Austin
| site_stadium = William R. Johnson Coliseum
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 56–67
| attend = 751
| record = 3–3
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 12
| highrebounder = Hayes
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = {{tooltip|3 Tied|Jackson, Fisher, Clifton}}
| assists = 2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 29, 2023
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Texas Southern
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 74–44
| attend = 591
| record = 4–3
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 25
| highrebounder = Hayes
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Ennis
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 2, 2023
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
| site_stadium = Dugan Wellness Center
| site_cityst = Corpus Christi, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 84–56
| attend = 824
| record = 5–3
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 14
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Hayes
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 9, 2023
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Gonzaga
| opprank = 23
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 72–80
| attend = 1,367
| record = 5–4
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 16
| highrebounder = Hayes
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Jackson, Owens-Barnett}}
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16, 2023
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Prairie View A&M
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 85–59
| attend = 765
| record = 6–4
| highscorer = Owens-Barnett
| points = 14
| highrebounder = Hayes
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Gooden
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 20, 2023
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Houston
| site_stadium = Fertitta Center
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| gamename = Rivalry
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 63–71
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,033
| record = 6–5
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 16
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 4
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Rice Owls}}| AAC regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 3, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Wichita State
| site_stadium = Fertitta Center
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 76–64
| attend = 424
| record = 7–5
| conference = 1–0
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 17
| highrebounder = Adams
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Jackson, Gooden}}
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 7, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = SMU
| site_stadium = Moody Coliseum
| site_cityst = University Park, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 65–63
| attend = 985
| record = 8–5
| conference = 2–0
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 17
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 11, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Charlotte
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 54–61
| attend = 697
| record = 8–6
| conference = 2–1
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 14
| highrebounder = Jackson
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Adams, Samb}}
| assists = 2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 14, 2024
| time = 12:00 pm
| opponent = South Florida
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPNU
| score = 67–64
| attend = 893
| record = 9–6
| conference = 3–1
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 23
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 13
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 17, 2024
| time = 10:00 am
| away = yes
| opponent = East Carolina
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Greenville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 80–67
| attend = 5,552
| record = 10–6
| conference = 4–1
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 19
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 20, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Tulane
| site_stadium = Devlin Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 61–44
| attend = 982
| record = 11–6
| conference = 5–1
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 16
| highrebounder = Bokunewicz
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 24, 2024
| time = 6:30 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Tulsa
| site_stadium = Reynolds Center
| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 65–70
| attend = 1,768
| record = 11–7
| conference = 5–2
| highscorer = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Jackson, Klaczek}}
| points = 17
| highrebounder = Klaczek
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Ennis
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| opponent = Memphis
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 66–73
| attend = 841
| record = 11–8
| conference = 5–3
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Adams
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Adams, Ennis}}
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 31, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = SMU
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–60
| attend = 804
| record = 12–8
| conference = 6–3
| highscorer = Ngulefac
| points = 19
| highrebounder = Adams
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 3, 2024
| time = 12:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| site_stadium = Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
| site_cityst = Boca Raton, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 63–68
| attend = 484
| record = 12–9
| conference = 6–4
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 16
| highrebounder = Ennis
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Owens-Barnett
| assists = 3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 7, 2024
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = South Florida
| site_stadium = Yuengling Center
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–59
| attend = 3,005
| record = 13–9
| conference = 7–4
| highscorer = Owens-Barnett
| points = 21
| highrebounder = Ennis
| rebounds = 7
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 10, 2024
| time = 5:00 pm
| opponent = Tulsa
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 78–66
| attend = 814
| record = 14–9
| conference = 8–4
| highscorer = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Adams, Owens-Barnett}}
| points = 17
| highrebounder = Adams
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Adams, Jackson}}
| assists = 4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 14, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = East Carolina
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 75–57
| attend = 623
| record = 15–9
| conference = 9–4
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 22
| highrebounder = Adams
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Owens-Barnett
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 17, 2024
| time = 1:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = UAB
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 74–87
| attend = 927
| record = 15–10
| conference = 9–5
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Adams
| rebounds = 8
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 20, 2024
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Memphis
| site_stadium = Elma Roane Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 74–79
| overtime = OT
| attend = 881
| record = 15–11
| conference = 9–6
| highscorer = Ennis
| points = 21
| highrebounder = Ennis
| rebounds = 6
| highassister = Fisher
| assists = 5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 25, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| opponent = Temple
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 66–75
| attend = 1,109
| record = 15–12
| conference = 9–7
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 24
| highrebounder = Jackson
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 2, 2024
| time = 2:00 pm
| opponent = North Texas
| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 54–63
| attend = 1,071
| record = 15–13
| conference = 9–8
| highscorer = Ngulefac
| points = 13
| highrebounder = Klaczek
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 5, 2024
| time = 6:30 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = UTSA
| site_stadium = Convocation Center
| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 52–60
| attend = 1,252
| record = 15–14
| conference = 9–9
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 30
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 12
| highassister = {{tooltip|3 Tied|Adams, Klaczek, Owens-Barnett}}
| assists = 2
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Rice Owls}}|2024 American Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 10, 2024
| time = 6:00 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 10
| opponent = UAB
| oppseed = 7
| score = 71–56
| site_stadium = Dickies Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, TX
| gamename = Second Round
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 20
| highrebounder = Ngulefac
| rebounds = 9
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Fisher, Jackson}}
| assists = 4
| record = 16–14
| overtime =
| attend = 1,483
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 11, 2024
| time = 6:00 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 10
| opponent = North Texas
| oppseed = 2
| score = 61–59
| site_stadium = Dickies Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, TX
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 16
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 10
| highassister = Jackson
| assists = 6
| record = 17–14
| overtime =
| attend = 1,602
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 12, 2024
| time = 8:00 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 10
| opponent = Temple
| oppseed = 3
| score = 60–57
| site_stadium = Dickies Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, TX
| gamename = Semifinals
| tv = ESPN+
| highscorer = Fisher
| points = 17
| highrebounder = {{tooltip|3 Tied|Fisher, Jackson, Ngulefac}}
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Gooden, Jackson}}
| assists = 4
| record = 18–14
| overtime =
| attend = 1,520
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 13, 2024
| time = 6:00 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 10
| opponent = East Carolina
| oppseed = 9
| score = 61–41
| site_stadium = Dickies Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Worth, TX
| gamename = Championship
| tv = ESPNU
| highscorer = Ngulefac
| points = 15
| highrebounder = Ngulefac
| rebounds = 11
| highassister = {{tooltip|2 Tied|Adams, Jackson}}
| assists = 4
| record = 19–14
| overtime =
| attend = 2,682
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Rice Owls}}|2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 22, 2024
| time = 3:00 pm
| away = yes
| seed = 14 A2
| opponent = LSU
| oppseed = 3 A2
| opprank = 8
| score = 60–70
| site_stadium = Pete Maravich Assembly Center
| site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
| gamename = First Round
| tv = ESPN
| highscorer = Jackson
| points = 15
| highrebounder = Fisher
| rebounds = 5
| highassister = Gooden
| assists = 5
| record = 19–15
| overtime =
| attend = 12,957
}}
{{CBB schedule end
|timezone=Central
|poll=AP Poll}}
Sources:{{Cite news|url=https://riceowls.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2023-24|title=2023-24 Women's Basketball Schedule|work=Rice University Athletics|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/242/season/2024|title=Rice Owls 2023-24 Regular Season NCAAW Schedule|work=ESPN|access-date=December 15, 2023|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Rice Owls women's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Rice Owls women's basketball team}}