Temple University Athletics

Saturday, February 11
Greenville, N.C.
5:00 p.m.

Temple University

19-5,9-2AAC

76
at
43

East Carolina

10-15,1-11AAC

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Temple
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East Carolina
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Donnaizha Fountain
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Women's Basketball Wins Big at East Carolina

2.11.17 | Women's Basketball

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The Temple women's basketball team picked up a 76-43 win on the road at East Carolina on Saturday night. The victory, the third straight for the Owls, improves Temple to 19-5 overall, 9-2 in conference play. East Carolina dips to 10-15, 1-11 in the American.

Temple's defense held East Carolina to under 13 points in all four quarters, as the Pirates shot just 26.2% (16-61) from the field. The Owls hovered around 50% for the game, connecting on 30-61 (49.2%) from the field and 8-5 (47.1%) from long-range, while out-rebounding ECU, 48-34.

Senior Feyonda Fitzgerald and juniors Donnaizha Fountain and Alliya Butts all stuffed the stat sheet for Temple. Fitzgerald finished with game highs of 21 points and six assists, while Fountain rattled off her eighth-career double-double with 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Butts had a fantastic all-around game, finishing with 12 points, a career-high six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Elsewhere, freshman Shantay Taylor had eight points, while senior Ruth Sherrill had seven rebounds to go along with four points. 

After an early 6-6 tie, Temple outscored East Carolina 17-3 over the final five minutes of the first quarter. The Owls' surge included 15-straight points with Fountain scoring eight and Fitzgerald five in the frame. The Owls shot 50% (7-14) in the stanza, holding ECU to 25% (4-16).  

Temple went up by 18 points on back-to-back buckets by Atkinson and Fitzgerald to make it 27-9 Owls at the start of the seconds. ECU answered with four unanswered points before the teams went back and forth until the ECU cut it to 16 on a Kristen Gaffney lay-up making it 31-15 with 4:43 left. From there, Temple closed the half with a 15-5 surge to take their largest lead of the game, a 46-20 advantage at the break.

Fitzgerald led the Owls with 14 points and three assists at the half, while Fountain had 13 points and a game-high six rebounds. Atkinson and Butts each scored eight points in the first, with Atkinson adding four rebounds and Butts, three steals. For East Carolina, Gaffney had seven points and six boards to lead the way.

Temple stretched its lead to 57-37 late in the third quarter, before a 6-0 run from East Carolina closed the frame. Despite the Pirates out-scoring the Owls, 13-11 in the quarter, Temple took a 57-33 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth, Temple's lead ballooned to as many as 35 points, as the Owls cruised to the 76-43 victory.

Temple next plays on Wednesday, hosting SMU at McGonigle Hall for the annual Play4Kay game at 7:00 p.m.

Box Score (PDF)
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