East Carolina Women’s Basketball Falls to Rice University

News Summary

The East Carolina University women’s basketball team faced a tough defeat against Rice University, ending with a score of 65-56. This loss marks a third consecutive defeat for the Lady Pirates, who now hold a 10-8 overall record in the season. Despite an early effort, ECU struggled with their shooting, particularly from three-point range, allowing Rice to secure a win and improve their conference standing. The Lady Pirates are looking to regroup as they prepare for their next game.

East Carolina Women’s Basketball Struggles Against Rice University

In a challenging matchup last night, the East Carolina University (ECU) women’s basketball team faced off against Rice University, ultimately falling short with a score of 65-56. This loss marks the Lady Pirates’ third consecutive defeat, leaving them with an overall record of 10-8 and a conference record of 2-4 in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

ECU’s Struggles Continue

With this latest setback, the Lady Pirates find themselves sitting in a less than favorable position at ninth place in the AAC standings. Meanwhile, Rice University also holds an overall record of 10-8, but their conference record improves slightly to 3-3 after this victory. ECU is now four and a half games behind the frontrunners, the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA), who boasts an impressive record of 16-2 and remains unbeaten at 7-0 in the AAC.

The Game Breakdown

The game kicked off with ECU senior forward Anzhane Hutton making a quick layup to get the scoring started. Hutton was not only the first to score but also went on to be the leading scorer for the Pirates, racking up a total of 16 points throughout the game. Senior forward Tatyana Wyche also stepped up in the first quarter, contributing valuable points to keep ECU competitive.

However, as the first quarter came to a close, ECU found themselves trailing Rice 10-16. The second quarter brought a bit of a struggle for both teams, with scoring being minimal. ECU managed to get a two-point jumper from sophomore guard Khia Miller to start the second, but as the clock ticked down, they were unable to gain traction, and the half finished with them behind 25-20.

ECU Attempts to Rally

Coming into the third quarter, ECU looked poised to make a comeback, starting strong with an explosive 6-0 run, marking the first lead they’d held since that initial basket. The young talents on the team, including Miller, freshman guard Devin Hagemann, and sophomore guard Jayla Hearp, showcased their skills and teamwork to ignite the crowd.

At one point, ECU regained the lead thanks to a three-point shot from Hearp. However, just when it seemed the tide was turning, they lost the advantage again before the conclusion of the quarter. A significant part of ECU’s challenges came from their struggles at the three-point line, where they hit a dismal 1 out of 16 attempts. In contrast, Rice was able to capitalize on their opportunities beyond the arc, sinking 6 of 18 three-point attempts.

What’s Next for ECU?

The Lady Pirates now look ahead to their next game, set for Wednesday, January 22, against an unspecified opponent at Minges Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., and fans will be able to catch the action on ESPN+. With determination and the spirit of teamwork, the Pirates are hoping to bounce back and make a push to climb up the AAC standings.

As the team regroups, it’s clear that the Lady Pirates are focused on turning things around and finding their rhythm as they navigate this competitive season. Tune in to support them in their next big challenge!