The Rice Owls (28-5, 17-1 American) are set to host the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (26-6, 17-1 CUSA) in the opening round of the WBIT on March 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. CT. Rice, the American Conference regular season champion, looks to rebound after a loss in the championship game against Temple. The Owls will compete for a chance to face the winner of the Troy vs. Kansas matchup. Victoria Flores earned Player of the Year honors, contributing to the team's recognition at the conference awards.

By the Numbers
  • Rice has won five regular season titles, their first since 2020-21.
  • Dominique Ennis is the program's all-time leader in three-pointers with 264.
Yes, But

Despite the Owls' impressive season, they fell short in the conference championship, indicating challenges that may impact their WBIT performance.

State of Play
  • Rice enters the WBIT with momentum but must overcome a tough opponent in Louisiana Tech.
  • The Owls are historically strong at home against the Lady Techsters, holding an 11-4 record in previous encounters.
What's Next

The winner of the Rice vs. Louisiana Tech game will advance to face either Troy or Kansas, potentially setting the stage for a competitive second round.

Bottom Line

Rice鈥檚 success rests on leveraging their home-court advantage and recent recognition, but their performance in the WBIT will ultimately reflect their resilience and ability to bounce back from the recent championship loss.