HOUSTON — Rice Owls women's basketball erased a late deficit and held off Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters for a 66–61 win Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Rice (29-5) used a strong second quarter and clutch shooting down the stretch to secure the victory in a game that featured seven ties and eight lead changes.

Louann Battiston led Rice with 21 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining that broke a 61-61 tie. She added five 3-pointers and sealed the game with two free throws in the final seconds. Shelby Hayes contributed 16 points and six rebounds, while Hailey Adams added nine assists.

Louisiana Tech (26-7) was paced by Paris Bradley’s 17 points and Jianna Morris’ 15. Jordan Marshall added 12 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

The Lady Techsters led 13-11 after the first quarter, but Rice surged in the second, outscoring Louisiana Tech 24-11 to take a 35-24 halftime advantage.

Louisiana Tech responded in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to six heading into the fourth. The Lady Techsters continued their push and tied the game at 56 and again at 61 in the final minute.

After Morris tied it with 41 seconds left, Battiston answered on the ensuing possession with a 3-pointer from the right wing to put Rice ahead for good.

Rice finished with a 38-31 rebounding edge and scored 17 second-chance points, helping offset 13 turnovers. Louisiana Tech shot 41.5 percent from the field and went 12-of-14 from the free-throw line.

Both teams traded runs throughout, but Rice’s timely perimeter shooting and late-game execution proved decisive.