RICE UNIVERSITY: Rice captures Women’s NIT championship for first time

The Rice women’s basketball team won its first Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship and the second postseason title in program history Sunday by defeating the University of Mississippi 71-58 in the final in Memphis, Tennessee.

Senior center Nancy Mulkey scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and added 12 rebounds, seven blocks and three assists in the championship game. She earned tournament MVP honors by averaging 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.4 blocks over five games.

The Owls, whose first postseason crown came at the 2017 Women’s Basketball Invitational, won all five of their WNIT games by double digits. They finish the season 23-4.