Owls Ranked for First Time in Program History
2/18/2019 11:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball
No. 25 in Associated Press Poll
HOUSTON – Rice women's basketball has entered the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in school history, the organization announced on Monday.
Out to their best record through 25 games, the Owls (22-3, 13-0) are ranked No. 25 after receiving votes for three consecutive weeks.
"Four years ago when I met Joe Karlgaard, it was clear we had a shared vision for what Rice women's basketball could become, and that was a nationally competitive program," Rice head coach Tina Langley said. "We are so grateful to all the young women and staff who believed and committed to taking this program to that level. With that being said, this is not our goal. Over the last four years, our focus has been on growth. It is one of our core values and has been our trademark for who we are and how we prepare. Our focus right now is on our next opponent. We will continue to take things one day at a time, one practice at a time, and if we continue to do that, we will become the best team we can be, and that is our goal."
Rice is in the midst of a program record 15-game winning streak, tied for the second-longest active win streak in the nation with Baylor and trailing only Oregon (17 straight wins).
Monday's honor is just the latest for the Owls during their historic season, having reached the 20-win plateau for a third straight year under Langley. Rice has won 67 games (22, 23, 22) over the last three seasons, the greatest stretch in program history.
Rice is 13-0 in league action, the most wins ever by an Owls team as a member of C-USA, and are winning by a margin of 17.4 points in those contests. Heading into this past weekend the Owls were ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense and have held 15 straight opponents below 70 points.
The Owls play at North Texas on Saturday (3 p.m.) on ESPN+ before returning home to host Louisiana Tech in the regular season home finale on Saturday, Mar 2. at 2 p.m.
Out to their best record through 25 games, the Owls (22-3, 13-0) are ranked No. 25 after receiving votes for three consecutive weeks.
"Four years ago when I met Joe Karlgaard, it was clear we had a shared vision for what Rice women's basketball could become, and that was a nationally competitive program," Rice head coach Tina Langley said. "We are so grateful to all the young women and staff who believed and committed to taking this program to that level. With that being said, this is not our goal. Over the last four years, our focus has been on growth. It is one of our core values and has been our trademark for who we are and how we prepare. Our focus right now is on our next opponent. We will continue to take things one day at a time, one practice at a time, and if we continue to do that, we will become the best team we can be, and that is our goal."
Rice is in the midst of a program record 15-game winning streak, tied for the second-longest active win streak in the nation with Baylor and trailing only Oregon (17 straight wins).
Monday's honor is just the latest for the Owls during their historic season, having reached the 20-win plateau for a third straight year under Langley. Rice has won 67 games (22, 23, 22) over the last three seasons, the greatest stretch in program history.
Rice is 13-0 in league action, the most wins ever by an Owls team as a member of C-USA, and are winning by a margin of 17.4 points in those contests. Heading into this past weekend the Owls were ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense and have held 15 straight opponents below 70 points.
The Owls play at North Texas on Saturday (3 p.m.) on ESPN+ before returning home to host Louisiana Tech in the regular season home finale on Saturday, Mar 2. at 2 p.m.
-RiceOwls.com-