WNIT Champs with local ties

The Rice Owls won the WNIT Sunday in Memphis, smashing Ole Miss, 71-58, and they did it with a healthy dose of McClain County flavor.

Katelyn Crosthwait, who has started every game for Rice this season, is a sophomore averaging 8.2 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and averages 26.6 minutes per game.

Junior Haylee Swayze has played in all 27 games for the Owls this season. She is averaging 6.7 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per outing and averages playing 18.9 minutes per game.

Swayze, who played for the Purcell Dragons in high school, has had seven double figure scoring games this season with the Owls, according to the Rice Sports Information Department. She was 4-4 at the line in the finals to finish with four points.

Crosthwait, who played for the Washington Warriors in high school, had eight points in the finals against Ole Miss and to go along with five rebounds.

Rice Sports Information reports Crosthwait is the Owl’s team leader in three point production. She has cut the nylons 43 times this season in 122 attempts to lead the squad.

Rice defeated a very athletic and physically tough defensive team in Arizona State University in the first round of the tournament.

“They were good defensively but had a hard time scoring,” a coach close to the program reported.

Fresno State was the second round victim.

“They were scary on offense,” the coach said. “They could take off. Rice was ahead 12-15 points for most of the game but never felt that comfortable.”

The Owls dispatched California Baptist in the Regional Finals.

California Baptist was 26-0 when they tipped it off with the Owls and are attempting to transition to Division I.

“We jumped on them early and they didn’t know how to respond,” the coach said.

Delaware, who was 22-4 when they squared off with Rice, was stuffed pretty handily.

The gym in Memphis was only half full.

“There were 35-50 Rice fans there and 500-600 Ole Miss fans in the stands,” the coach said. “Of course it was less than an hour drive from Oxford. They were much like Arizona State. Very athletic. Their fans were fired up but they didn’t make much noise. Rice defended well and held Ole Miss down in the scoring department. Of course having the big (Nancy) Mulkey girl inside is a difference maker.”

Rice, who is a member of Conference USA, finished the season 23-4.