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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Rice University women's basketball team brought |
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the 2020-2021 season to a triumphant close by winning the Women's |
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National Invitation Tournament on March 28 in Collierville, |
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Tennessee; and |
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WHEREAS, After enjoying a stellar regular season in which |
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they compiled an 18-4 record and claimed the Conference USA |
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regular-season crown, the Owls opened the WNIT with a victory over |
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Arizona State; they went on to vanquish Fresno State and California |
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Baptist University to set up a semifinal matchup against the |
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University of Delaware; in the wake of a blistering 29-to-12 run to |
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finish out the first half, Rice never looked back, advancing to the |
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title game by the final score of 85-75; and |
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WHEREAS, Squaring off in the finale against the University of |
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Mississippi, Rice trailed only once early in the game and led by as |
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many as 16 points; walking away with a resounding 71-58 victory, the |
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Owls claimed the school's first WNIT title; they also became the |
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first member of Conference USA to win the tournament; and |
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WHEREAS, Rice was led by the tournament's Most Valuable |
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Player, senior center Nancy Mulkey, and she was joined on the |
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All-Tournament Team by sophomore forward Lauren Schwartz; the Owls |
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also received valuable contributions throughout the year from the |
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other members of the roster: Ashlee Austin, India Bellamy, Maya |
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Bokunewicz, Katelyn Crosthwait, Destiny Jackson, Arianna McCurry, |
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Jasmine Smith, Haylee Swayze, and Sydne Wiggins; these dedicated |
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student-athletes were guided by head coach Tina Langley and |
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assistant coaches Latara King, Steven Asher, and Nolan Wilson; and |
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WHEREAS, The triumphant performance by the Rice University |
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Owls in the WNIT, beating all five teams by double digits, has been |
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proudly celebrated by their many fans across the Lone Star State, |
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and the team may indeed reflect with pride on a job well done; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Rice University women's |
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basketball team on winning the 2021 Women's National Invitation |
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Tournament and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Owls as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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A. Johnson of Harris |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1033 was adopted by the House on May |
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14, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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