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January 19, 2007 > Sports > Neaves grabs 1,000th board in win

Neaves grabs 1,000th board in win

By Justin Hudson | Thresher staff

Even with senior forward Lauren Neaves back from a hip injury, the women’s basketball team could not build any momentum in the early stages of conference play. Rice (9-9, 2-3 Conference USA) fell 74-60 to East Carolina University on the road Sunday, three days after beating Marshall University 83-79 at Autry Court.

The Owls will face two huge tests this week to start a five-game homestand, beginning Sunday at 3:00 p.m. against the University of Houston. ESPN2 will televise the game as part of the network’s “Student Spirit Week.” The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free Chipotle burrito, and the first 300 get a free T-shirt. Posterboard and markers will also be available to make signs for the telecast.

After a dreadful non-conference stretch, the Cougars (5-10, 2-3) are in position to make a move in a wide open C-USA field and should prove tough opponents. UH beat Rice 91-86 in overtime at Hofheinz Pavillion Jan. 2 thanks to a stellar 30-point performance from guard Tye Jackson. Jackson and the Cougars have beaten the Owls in their last three regular-season meetings.

Next, Rice will take on Southern Methodist University Thursday at 7:00 p.m. In their last meeting, the Owls squeaked by the Mustangs (11-6, 3-2) 55-51 in the 2006 C-USA semifinal game despite having then-junior guard Krystal Frazier, the Owls’ leading scorer, out with a torn ACL.

For the first eight minutes of the game against Marshall (10-7, 3-2), Rice looked a lot like the team that was picked to win C-USA in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Owls raced to a 23-8 lead, sparked by hot shooting — they made seven of their first ten field-goal attempts — and Neaves’ return. But when Neaves left the game in foul trouble, Marshall began to claw its way back. The Thundering Herd tied the game at 30 with 5:46 remaining in the half after a 13-4 run and took a 48-38 lead into halftime.

As Marshall’s lead grew, so did the Owls’ frustration. Head coach Greg Williams (Hanszen ‘70) was called for a technical foul late in the first half after arguing with the officials.

“We had a couple of early fouls and we got out of our rhythm,” Neaves said. “We had a really good transitional game that took them out of their press, [but] we had some fouls and put them on the line. … A [lot] of their points came from that.”

The start of the second half proved no better for the Owls, as they fell behind by as many as 14 points. However, with Neaves and junior center Valeriya Berezhynska taking over the paint, Rice went on an amazing 21-0 run midway through the half. Marshall’s offense, which scored at will in the first half, could not budge against the Owls’ 3-2 zone defense. The Thundering Herd turned the ball over eight times down the stretch, while attempting only five shots. The Owls forced 14 total Marshall turnovers while committing only three themselves.

Williams said he was pleased with the turnover differential.

“We were much more active,” he said. “Our kids did a really good job of communicating in the defense we were trying to play, and that was the result. We converted some of those turnovers into points, [and] you need that when you’re trying to come back from 14 [points] down.”

Still, the Owls had trouble putting the Thundering Herd away in the final minutes. Marshall cut the lead to 79-75 with just over two minutes remaining but did not come any closer.

Williams said his team’s effort against the Thundering Herd was disheartening, despite the win. “I am concerned about our Marshall performance,” Williams said. “We had a lead and not only let them back but take a big lead [of their own]. We just don’t seem to be able to have that killer instinct when we get a big lead to put teams away.”

Neaves dominated in the second half against Marshall, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds to notch the 42nd double-double of her career. She also became only the third Owl, male or female, to grab 1,000 rebounds in a career. Only Michael Harris (Wiess ‘05) and Brent Scott (Jones ‘04) have more. Neaves said the victory was more important than any individual achievement.

“As long as that 1,000th rebound kept [Marshall] from getting an extra two or three points, that’s all that matters,” she said.

Neaves’ big game complemented another great performance from Berezhynska, who had 22 points and 7 rebounds. Frazier, senior forward Samantha Stovall and junior guard Kadie Riverin also scored in double figures for the Owls.

The Owls’ game against East Carolina began the same way as the Marshall game. Rice again sprinted to a big lead, this time a 24-7 advantage with 9:40 left in the first half. Again, the opponent gradually got back into the game. By halftime, the Owls were only up 34-33, victims of a 26-10 run over the latter part of the first half. This time, things only got worse for Rice. Neaves mustered just six points and three rebounds in 23 minutes. The Owls lost despite a game-high 21 points by Krystal Frazier and a career-high 10 points by freshman guard Tara Watts. They were the only two Owls in double-digits.

“We just didn’t grasp the chance to really help ourselves,” Williams said. “That’s been the trademark of this team. We just can’t seem to put any type of consistent performance together.”

End of article

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