HOUSTON, Texas – Rice hit 14 three-pointers – including 9 of 13 in the second half – to pull away in the fourth quarter in a 73-50 victory over Louisiana Tech Friday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse in Conference USA action.

Tech (13-8, 8-7 C-USA) trailed 41-37 after a pair of free throws by Raizel Guinto with 4:07 to play in the third quarter, but Rice (14-2, 10-1) responded with a three-pointer – the first of six straight made three's by the Owls over the next five minutes of action.

Included in the Owls three-point barrage were a trifecta of shots from beyond the arc from backup post India Bellamy, who entered the game just 2-of-13 for the entire season, as well as a half-court heave at the end of the third quarter by Jasmine Smith. It was simply Rice's day from downtown.

"I honestly felt like we defended pretty well," said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. "I wasn't happy in the first few minutes but after the first media timeout, I thought we really picked up our intensity. We forced 20 turnovers today. But they hit three-pointers. They got them from unlikely people and unlikely places. It was just their day so you just have to tip your cap to them."

Tech struggled offensively all game. Despite committing just eight turnovers, the Lady Techsters hit just 31 percent (19-62) of its shots, including just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc.

"I wasn't happy how we competed and executed on the offensive end," said Stoehr. "I thought we got some good looks especially in the first half, but we didn't knock them down. I thought we rushed things at times in the second half. We have to be better. I'm confident we will be tomorrow."

Despite missing its first nine shots of the game, Tech trailed just 11-10 with under a minute to play in the first quarter. However, Rice hit a three-pointer and then following a live ball turnover by Tech, the Owls scored in transition right before the buzzer and led 16-10.

Rice upped its lead early in the second quarter to 19-10, but Tech fought back again, trimming the lead down to 28-26 right before the half. However, Rice hit a three-pointers with 34 seconds remaining to take a 31-26 halftime lead.

After Rice pushed its lead out to 41-31 early in the third quarter, Tech scored six straight to cut the deficit to 41-37 before the Owls resumed their three-point barrage. The 14 three-pointers by Rice were the third most ever by a LA Tech opponent.

Keiunna Walker led Tech with 19 points while Amber Dixon and Anna Larr Roberson each added nine points.

The two teams will play Saturday at 4 p.m.