The Rice women’s basketball team was joined by the Owl fan base and community in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last weekend as the team embarked on an invaluable and unforgettable March Madness experience.
The Owls’ fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history came in its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference, following four straight wins as the lower seed in each game of the AAC tournament to capture the conference championship trophy. The Owls battled from start to finish against the reigning national champion Louisiana State University Tigers in the first round of the Big Dance, falling just short of advancing with a 70-60 loss March 22.
While not the result the team hoped for, Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds said she was happy with her squad’s effort.
“I’m incredibly proud to be their coach,” said Edmonds, who is the first coach in program history to make the NCAA Tournament by their third season at Rice. “We came in here, and we fought for four quarters. I thought we did a lot of great things, but the main thing that I’m proud of is that we never for one second quit or looked like we didn’t believe that we belonged in this game.”
The opportunity to be able to showcase the talent of Rice student-athletes on a stage like March Madness is indispensable to the brand of Rice Athletics and Rice as a whole, said Tommy McClelland, vice president and director of athletics.
“For us to be a part of something that’s nationwide — it’s a lens in which people get to see our university through the pinpoint of women’s athletics,” McClelland said. “And I couldn’t be more excited about how they’re representing us. The great thing I know about these young ladies is no matter what the outcome is, they’re going to perform with class and they’re going to represent us with character.”
Prior to the game, a fan social was held at the team’s hotel where the team received a lively send-off on their way to the bus.
“It’s so exciting to see our fan turnout, the parents, the band, the spirit squad. It’s just great energy,” McClelland said. “And what a great representation of Rice University. Our student-athletes are competing at the highest level academically to go along with what they’re doing on the court. We couldn’t be prouder of them.”
“The support from our community is amazing,” junior forward Malia Fisher said. “Being on this journey, starting from conference to now, I don’t think anybody’s doubted us. So having them behind us has really added and contributed to our success.”
Traveling to Baton Rouge to attend the fan social and game were many parents of Rice players, including Rob Bokunewicz, the father of junior guard Maya Bokunewicz.
Rob Bokunewicz detailed his daughter’s journey through injuries and adversity to make it to this point with her teammates.
“Maya has had her struggles,” he said. “She had two ACL (injuries) in her career, and it’s been really tough for her. But she’s persevered and the team has persevered through ups and downs. And I think we’re in the right place now.”
Maya made her mark on the game, playing 18 minutes, knocking down two key 3-pointers and playing some intense defense against the Tigers.
“It’s awesome, you really can’t explain it in words,” Rob Bokunewicz said. “For many years I was her coach. So to see her at this level, it’s really exciting. We’re very, very proud of her.”
Marcus and Nicole Clifton traveled 16 hours from Maryland to watch their daughter, sophomore forward Kennedy Clifton, and the Owls perform.
“This means a lot,” Marcus Clifton said. “I started off coaching Kennedy as a 6- or 7-year-old, and to see her progression and then ending up at a prestigious university like Rice University has been amazing.
“Most schools look at Rice and think of just a bunch of smart kids. They don’t really think about the athletic side. Rice has had a tradition of having a great women’s basketball team, and I think that they’re adding to that with this accomplishment.”
“She’s blessed. We’re blessed. And I just am so grateful and thankful for this experience,” Nicole Clifton said.
After a promising season, Edmonds says she is optimistic her team will come back stronger next season as the Owls will be returning the majority of their players. But more importantly, they’ll be returning with a newfound perspective on what it takes to make a postseason run.
“We talked about it in the locker room — remember this feeling,” she said. “Remember what it felt like to get here. But next year, we want to go a step further, and that means summer work has to be harder. Preseason work has to be harder. I think everybody’s going to be hungry to get back, so I’m excited for what next year can look like.”
