HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by poor shooting and a parade to the free-throw line, the Rice Owls capitalized on their opportunities to defeat the Houston Cougars 70-56 in a women’s NCAA basketball game Tuesday night at Hofheinz Pavilion.

The Owls, despite shooting just 31.6 percent from the floor, secured their first victory of the young season by converting a staggering 28 of 31 attempts from the charity stripe. The Cougars, conversely, left crucial points unclaimed, making only 18 of their 33 free throws.

Rice improved its record to 1-1, while Houston moved to 2-1.

The game was a contest of offensive inefficiency from the start. Both teams combined to miss their first 11 field goal attempts before Rice’s Aniah Alexis finally connected on a 3-pointer nearly three minutes into the contest. The Owls built an early lead, ending the first quarter up 14-10, and maintained a 32-27 advantage at halftime.

The contest remained within reach for the Cougars through three quarters, with Rice leading 45-38. However, the Owls put the game away with a dominant 25-point fourth quarter, consistently drawing fouls and sinking free throws to extinguish any hope of a Houston comeback.

Victoria Flores led all scorers for Rice, pouring in 16 points, many of which came from a perfect 10-for-10 performance at the free-throw line. Hailey Adams provided a significant boost with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Jordin Blackmon and Aniah Alexis each added 12 points. Louann Battiston facilitated the offense with a team-high four assists.

Houston’s offense was led by a trio of players. Kierra Merchant, Kyndall Hunter and Amirah Abdur-Rahim each finished with 12 points. Merchant struggled with her shot, however, and the Cougars as a team were anemic from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 10 attempts.

The game was ultimately decided by ball security and free-throw shooting. Houston committed 22 turnovers, which Rice converted into key scoring opportunities. The Owls’ ability to get to the line and capitalize proved to be the decisive factor in a game where made baskets were a rarity.

Rice’s offense, which managed an offensive rating of 90.1 on 78 possessions, was just efficient enough to overcome its poor field goal shooting, while Houston’s offensive rating of 67.7 on 83 possessions underscored its struggles to score consistently.

An announced crowd of 1,104 watched the crosstown matchup.

Rice will look to build on the victory when it hosts Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Houston will hit the road for its next contest, facing Stephen F. Austin on Monday.