#25 Women's Basketball Downs SMU for 20th Win of the Season

Wednesday, February 15

McGonigle Hall

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

20-5, 10-2

SMU

13-12, 4-8

SMU

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

#25 Women's Basketball Downs SMU for 20th Win of the Season

2.15.17 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA -- The No. 25 Temple women's basketball team picked up a 66-52 win at home against SMU on Wednesday night, as the Owls reached the 20-win mark for the seventh time under head coach Tonya Cardoza. Temple improves to 20-5 overall, 10-2 in the American, taking over sole possession of second place. SMU dips to 13-12 overall, 4-8 in conference play.

The Owls jumped out to an early lead and after the first eight minutes of play, never trailed by less than 10 points. Though SMU out-shot Temple, 38.3% to 33.8%, the Owls connected for 10 threes and held the Mustangs without one from beyond-the-arc, marking the second time this season that the cherry and white held opponents without a three. The Owls also kept SMU's taller roster in check on the boards, as Temple held a slim 46-45 rebounding edge, while also forcing 19 turnovers.

Individually, Temple's Donnaizha Fountain tallied her second-straight double-double, scoring a game-high 19 points with 12 rebounds. Senior Feyonda Fitzgerald filled out the box score with 17 points, seven assists, and five steals. Junior Tanaya Atkinson finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while senior Ruth Sherrill tallied a game-best 13 boards, five of which were offensive. Rounding out the individual highlights, junior Alliya Butts had seven points, five assists, and three steals, while classmate Khadijah Berger had six points, three assists, and two blocks.

Temple rolled in the first quarter, with a defense that allowed just four points, without committing a foul. The Owls jumped out to a 12-0 lead before a bucket from Mikayla Reese finally got SMU on the board with 2:47 on the clock. Temple then closed the frame on an 7-2 run to lead 19-4 after one.

SMU went on two separate 6-0 runs in the second quarter, but Temple broke it up with a 9-0 run of their own. Overall, the Owls finished with a 17-15 edge in the frame, to take a 36-19 lead at the half.

Fitzgerald led all players with 11 points and five assists in the first half, while Fountain had eight points and Atkinson, seven. The Owls out-rebounded SMU, 26-22 in the half, bolstered by 10 first-half boards from Sherrill. Stephanie Collins led the Mustangs with six points in the first half, while Mackenzie Adams had four points and four rebounds.

The Owls gave up just two points of their advantage in the third quarter, as SMU shot 42.1% to edge Temple, 17-15. Dai'Ja Thomas scored seven points for the Mustangs in the frame, while Fountain matched her with seven for the Owls. Still, after three, Temple held a 51-36 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, Temple pushed its advantage to as many as 20, as an Atkinson tip-in at 4:16 put the Owls on top, 63-43. From there, SMU outscored the Owls 9-3 over the final four minutes, but Temple's advantage was too great, as the cherry and white finished out the 66-52 win.

Temple hits the road this weekend, traveling to Tampa to play #22 USF on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN2.

Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Press Conference