Women's Basketball Wins Big Over Saint Joseph's to Open Season

Friday, November 11

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

1-0, 1-0Big 5

Saint Joseph's

0-1, 0-1Big 5

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Temple	23	27	21	15	86
Saint Joseph's	15	20	14	21	70

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Women's Basketball Wins Big Over Saint Joseph's to Open Season

11.11.16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple women's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season with a 86-70 win on the road at Saint Joseph's Hagan Arena on Friday night. Four Temple players finished in double-digits in scoring, as the Owls snapped a four-game losing streak to the Hawks.

Temple out-shot (45.9% to 38.3%) and out-rebounded (36-33) the Hawks, and led by as many as 29 points. While Saint Joseph's opened with a 5-2 lead, Temple quickly took over and did not trail for the final 36:53.

Temple juniors Tanaya Atkinson and Donnaizha Fountain topped the team in scoring and rebounding, with Atkinson finishing with 24 points and seven boards, while Fountain ended her night with 20 points and eight rebounds. Senior Feyonda Fitzgerald notched 16 points with a game-best five assists, while junior Alliya Butts added 12 points and four steals. Senior Monasia Bolduc recorded career-bests in points (6), rebounds (4), and minutes (15), while rookie Shantay Taylor had four points and four rebounds in her first collegiate game.

Both teams shot 40% (6-15) in the first quarter, but Temple forced six SJU turnovers, en route to a 23-15 advantage. After the Hawks opened with a 5-2 lead, the Owls out-scored the hosts 21-10 the rest of the way. Fitzgerald led Temple with 13 first quarter points, while Butts chipped in with five.

Saint Joseph's got Temple's lead down to five (25-20) early in the second quarter, but a 12-4 run put Temple back on top by 13 (37-24) with 5:24 remaining. The Owls' lead ballooned to 18 points (44-26) on an Atkinson steal and lay-up at 2:52, and Temple led 50-35 at the break.

Fitzgerald notched a game-best 16 points in the first half, while Fountain had nine points and a team-high three boards. Atkinson (9 points) and Butts (8 points, 3 steals) rounded out the half-time leaders.

Temple shot a blistering 69.2% in the third quarter, and led by as many as 27 points, before Saint Joseph's closed the frame on a 7-0 run to make it 71-49 after three.

In the fourth quarter, a 12-5 run gave Temple its largest lead of the game, 83-54. SJU slowly whittled the lead to under 20 points, but Temple closed out the victory, 86-70.

Alyssa Monaghan led SJU with 15 points, while Amanda Fioravanti finished with 14.

The Owls are back in action at home on Monday, hosting Big-5 rival, La Salle, at 5:00 p.m. at McGonigle Hall.

Box Score (PDF)