Her family lived in a two-storey Georgian building at Marlhill, half a mile from New Inn, County Tipperary.

After winning over Mary Steedman in two sets in the first round, Rice's opponent in the allcomers' final was May Jacks.

Rice won in two sets to lift the 50-guineas challenger trophy and a cash prize of 20 guineas.

[2][1][3] She is credited with inventing the Overhead Smash, employing it in her match-winning point against Jacks in the 1890 final.

She was buried at the New Inn cemetery, close to her parents, her brother Samuel and their father's sister Agnes.