Western Kentucky’s Tashia Brown (center) drives between Old Dominion guard Victoria Morris (left) and Dejah Carter on Thursday during the Lady Tops’ 62-48 win at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The last loss Rice suffered on its home court was in last year’s regular season finale against Western Kentucky. The Owls are 9-0 this year at the Tudor Fieldhouse sitting in second place in the Conference USA standings with Alabama-Birmingham and WKU.

The Lady Toppers will try and get another win in Houston and snap Rice’s win streak in a 2 p.m. tipoff with the Owls on Saturday.

“It’s going to be tough,” WKU senior Tashia Brown said. “We just have to go in and play our game.”

WKU (18-5 overall, 9-1 C-USA) hopes its game doesn’t reflect the effort in a 62-48 win against Old Dominion from Thursday. The Lady Toppers never established a rhythm in a defensive battle with one of the league’s struggling teams in the Lady Monarchs.

Michelle Clark-Heard knows there’s no margin for error at Rice on Saturday, especially considering the lack of energy her team showed Thursday.

“That’s what I talked to the team about at the end of the game and we’ve got to move forward,” Heard said. “We’ve got a quick turnaround and play a really good Rice team that hasn’t lost at home.”

Heard suggested WKU’s youth might have caught up with it against Old Dominion. Outside of seniors Ivy Brown and Tashia Brown, no other player had significant playing time last season. It’s all part of the growth process, the coach said.

“As a coach, sometimes you have to realize that and take a step back,” Heard said. “At one point I had four freshmen on the floor. … They haven’t witnessed all of this before. I think that’s some of it, but also I’m challenging Tashia and Ivy. I’m challenging them that we can’t start like that because they’ve worked so hard to put this team on their back, so we’ve got to be ready no matter what, day in and day out.”

Rice (17-4, 7-2) was in a three-way tie for first in the league before dropping a 75-55 loss at Louisiana Tech on Thursday. The loss was just Rice’s second in the last 14 games while the team is off to its best start in school history.

The Owls boast one of the league’s best players in sophomore guard Erica Ogwumike (17.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg), who had her ninth 20-point game at Louisiana Tech.

“She’s a tough player to guard,” Heard said. “We’re going to have to change up our defenses and speed them up. They like to run that offense and get in half-court and pass and cut and we’re going to try to speed them up and change up our defenses and get ourselves mentally ready to go.

“They play unbelievable at home. … It’s going to be a challenge for us after this quick turnaround. To win championships, you’ve got to go on the road and beat some people.”

Probable starters

Western Kentucky – Tashia Brown, f, 6-1, sr. (23.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Whitney Creech, g, 5-8, so. (7.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Ivy Brown, f, 6-1, sr. (15.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg); Kayla Smith, g, 5-11, jr. (1.8 ppg, 1.2 ppg); Raneem Elgedawy, f, 6-4, fr. (9.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg)

Rice – Wendy Knight, g, 5-9, sr. (11.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Erica Ogwumike, g, 5-9, r-so. (17.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg); Gabrielle Stanton, g, 5-7, jr. (5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Nicole Iademarco, g/f, 6-1, r-jr. (13.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Alexah Chrisman f/c, 6-2, fr. (2.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

TV – FloSports (Online Stream)

Radio ESPN 102.7 FM or 1450 AM

Coaches Michelle Clark-Heard (148-44 sixth year; 172-76 overall), Western Kentucky; Tina Langley (48-39 third year; 48-39 overall) Rice.

Series Record WKU leads 3-0 (WKU won last meeting 80-75 on March 4).

Last time out Western Kentucky won 62-48 against Old Dominion on Thursday; Rice lost 75-55 at Louisiana Tech on Thursday.{&end}