Women’s Basketball Drops One-Point Game to Villanova, 59-58

Sunday, December 22

McGonigle Hall

2 PM

Temple University

6-4, 1-2Big 5

VILLANOVA

9-1, 2-1Big 5

VILLANOVA

TEMPLE

Sophomore Erica Covile

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Women’s Basketball Drops One-Point Game to Villanova, 59-58

12.22.13 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOXSCORE IN PDF | GALLERY | VIDEO

PHILADELPHIA – Temple women's basketball lost a heart-breaker to Villanova, 59-58, in Philadelphia Big 5 action on Sunday afternoon at McGonigle Hall.

The Owls fell to 6-4 overall and 1-2 in Big 5 action, while the Wildcats improved to 9-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 5 play.

"Playing a Big 5 game at home against a pretty good team, it's not a good time going into the holidays this way," said sixth-year head coach Tonya Cardoza. "We broke down in the second half."

In the first half, the teams traded baskets throughout the stanza. Temple took a three-point lead, 18-15, but the squads entered the locker room at halftime tied at 18-18, plagued by poor shooting performances.

In the second half, Temple utilized a 7-0 run to take its biggest lead, 30-23, fueled by freshman Feyonda Fitzgerald's (Norfolk, Va.) seven points. Villanova fired back with an 18-4 run to go ahead by seven, 41-34, for its biggest lead. The teams traded baskets and kept the game within three points until VU led by five, 57-52 with 50 seconds to go. Junior Tyonna Williams (Fort Washington, Md.) made a lay-up with 22 seconds remaining to give the Owls a one-point lead, 58-57. The Wildcats scored on their next possession to take a one-point edge. TU got the ball back with two seconds to go. Williams inbounded the ball to Fitzgerald who launched the game's final shot, a three-pointer, that fell short.

"We missed easy opportunities in the first half," Cardoza said. "In the second half, Villanova got everything it wanted."

Fitzgerald led Temple with 23 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Erica Covile (Detroit, Mich.) was the only other Owl in double figures, finishing with a career-high 16 points.

"I think if we play good defense, we can be a really good team," Cardoza said.

Caroline Coyer, younger sister to TU football's Chris Coyer, led Villanova with 19 points off the bench. Taylor Holeman added 10 points.

Overall, Temple out-rebounded Villanova, 40-29. The Owls shot 56 percent from the field in the second half after shooting a dismal 26 percent in the first stanza. TU shot 40 percent (21-of-52) for the game. Villanova also had two different shooting halves, 29 percent in the first, 50 percent in the second, and 39 percent (22-of-56) for the game.

Temple opens American Athletic Conference play at Memphis on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET. The Owls return home to McGonigle Hall on New Year's Day to host No. 7 Louisville at 4 p.m.