Temple University Athletics
Friday, November 14
Liacouras Center
4:30 p.m.
Temple University
1-0
75
vs
72
La Salle
0-1
1
2
F
La Salle
44
28
72
TEMPLE
46
29
75
Feyonda Fitzgerald poured in a career-high 29 points
Photo by: Paige Ozaroski
Women's Basketball Defeats La Salle 75-72 to Win Season Opener
11.14.14 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore Feyonda Fitzgerald knocked down a career-high 29 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 34 seconds remaining, as the Temple women's basketball team defeated La Salle, 75-72, in the season opener for both teams at the Liacouras Center. Fitzgerald bolstered her stat line with six rebounds and a team-high five assists, also connecting on 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Owls also got a surge from junior Erica Covile, who went 7-13 from the field, finishing with 17 points and three blocks. Sophomore Safiya Martin led Temple with 11 boards, while senior Tyonna Williams chipped in with nine points. Freshmen Tanaya Atkinson and Alliya Butts were solid in their collegiate debuts, with Atkinson scoring nine points and Butts adding eight.
Temple had the early edge, taking a 10-5 lead after a pair of Martin free throws. La Salle quickly answered, as a three from Amy Griffin and a pair of foul shots from Alicia Cropper, knotted the game at 10-10. The Owls were able to build back the five-point edge after a spark from Butts off the bench, who nailed a three and a running jumper to give Temple a 21-16 advantage midway through the half.
After five straight from La Salle, including another trey from Griffin, Temple manufactured a 12-3 run, making it 33-23 with just over six to play in the half. A pair of La Salle free throws interrupted the Temple run, but the Owls responded with a three from Fitzgerald to push it to 36-25 at 4:19.
La Salle put together a run of its own, closing out the half with a 7-0 spurt to narrow the Owl edge to 46-44 at the break. Fitzgerald led all players at the half with 17 points, while Micayah Owens was tops on La Salle with 11 points.
Temple scored the first seven points of the second half to open a nine-point lead at 53-44, with 15:32 to play. La Salle responded with a 13-3 run, knotting the game at 57-57 on a three from Cropper at the 12:35 mark. Williams stopped the bleeding for Temple with pull-up jumper on the next possession, but La Salle took its first lead of the second half on a Owens three and a Jasmine Alston lay-up, making it 62-59 with 9:41 to play.
Neither team was able to gain much breathing room over the next six minutes, but La Salle surged late, taking a 70-65 lead on an Owens lay-up with 3:41 to play. Temple was able to cut the advantage to 70-69 on bucket from Fitzgerald, but La Salle got a Cropper jumper to make it 72-69 with 2:42 to play. That basket proved to be the last for the Explorers in the contest.
A pair of free throws from Williams cut the lead to 72-71 and Fitzgerald's jumper with 34 ticks on the clock put Temple ahead for good. A defensive board from Fitzgerald on the next possession and free throws from her and Atkinson then closed out the 75-72 Temple victory.
The Owls are back in action on Tuesday with another Big 5 game. Temple heads to cross-town rival at Saint Joseph's for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
Box Score | Post-Game Interviews
The Owls also got a surge from junior Erica Covile, who went 7-13 from the field, finishing with 17 points and three blocks. Sophomore Safiya Martin led Temple with 11 boards, while senior Tyonna Williams chipped in with nine points. Freshmen Tanaya Atkinson and Alliya Butts were solid in their collegiate debuts, with Atkinson scoring nine points and Butts adding eight.
Temple had the early edge, taking a 10-5 lead after a pair of Martin free throws. La Salle quickly answered, as a three from Amy Griffin and a pair of foul shots from Alicia Cropper, knotted the game at 10-10. The Owls were able to build back the five-point edge after a spark from Butts off the bench, who nailed a three and a running jumper to give Temple a 21-16 advantage midway through the half.
After five straight from La Salle, including another trey from Griffin, Temple manufactured a 12-3 run, making it 33-23 with just over six to play in the half. A pair of La Salle free throws interrupted the Temple run, but the Owls responded with a three from Fitzgerald to push it to 36-25 at 4:19.
La Salle put together a run of its own, closing out the half with a 7-0 spurt to narrow the Owl edge to 46-44 at the break. Fitzgerald led all players at the half with 17 points, while Micayah Owens was tops on La Salle with 11 points.
Temple scored the first seven points of the second half to open a nine-point lead at 53-44, with 15:32 to play. La Salle responded with a 13-3 run, knotting the game at 57-57 on a three from Cropper at the 12:35 mark. Williams stopped the bleeding for Temple with pull-up jumper on the next possession, but La Salle took its first lead of the second half on a Owens three and a Jasmine Alston lay-up, making it 62-59 with 9:41 to play.
Neither team was able to gain much breathing room over the next six minutes, but La Salle surged late, taking a 70-65 lead on an Owens lay-up with 3:41 to play. Temple was able to cut the advantage to 70-69 on bucket from Fitzgerald, but La Salle got a Cropper jumper to make it 72-69 with 2:42 to play. That basket proved to be the last for the Explorers in the contest.
A pair of free throws from Williams cut the lead to 72-71 and Fitzgerald's jumper with 34 ticks on the clock put Temple ahead for good. A defensive board from Fitzgerald on the next possession and free throws from her and Atkinson then closed out the 75-72 Temple victory.
The Owls are back in action on Tuesday with another Big 5 game. Temple heads to cross-town rival at Saint Joseph's for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.
Box Score | Post-Game Interviews
Team Stats
LAS
TEMPLE
FG%
.388
.373
3FG%
.438
.375
FT%
.813
.762
RB
42
46
TO
14
17
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballTemple Men's Basketball | Babatunde Durodola Day In The Life
Saturday, September 13
Ep. 3: Temple Volleyball Head Coach Linda Hampton-Keith || Lacrosse Student-Athlete Jenna Facciolli
Friday, September 12
Ep. 2: Temple Football Alum Tyler Matakevich || Gymnastics Junior Amelia Budd
Friday, September 05
Elevate the Owls: Temple Athletics' Competitive Excellence Fund
Tuesday, September 02
