Women's Basketball Set for Sunday Clash at #23 USF

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple women's basketball will look to snap a five-game skid on Sunday, playing on the road at #23 USF. The Owls and the Bulls will square off at 12:00 p.m. on ESPNU.

SCOUTING TEMPLE
> Temple is 9-10 overall, with a 1-5 record in American Athletic Conference play.
> Temple is led by senior Tanaya Atkinson, who averages team-best totals of 22.4 points and 9.7 rebounds, with 2.8 assists per game.
> Freshman Mia Davis is second on the team with 12.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per outing.
> Freshman Desiree Oliver adds 8.3 points and 3.0 assists per game, recently returning to the line-up after an injury.
> Rookie Emani Mayo averages 8.2 points and 2.3 assists per game.
> Senior Khadijah Berger averages 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game.
> As a team, Temple shoots 39.1% from the field and 30.0% from three.
> The Owls have out-rebounded opponents by an average of 2.4 boards per game, but have a negative turnover margin (-2.4).

LAST TIME OUT
> Visiting Penn racked up 40 points in the paint, as the Quakers topped Temple 74-59 on Wednesday.
> Tanaya Atkinson tallied her 11th double-double of the season with 19 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
> Desiree Oliver had 14 points with five assists and four rebounds.
> Mia Davis rounded out the scoring with 11 points and eight rebounds.
> Shantay Taylor tied a career best with seven rebounds.

SCOUTING USF
> USF is 15-5 overall with a 5-2 start to the American season.
> The Bulls are ranked #23 in the latest USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll.
> USF has three players in double figures in scoring, led by Kitija Laksa's 19.9 points per outing.
> Laksa has racked up 72 total threes this season, shooting 39.6% from long-range.
> Maria Jespersen contribures 17.0 points and a team-high 9.3 rebounds per game.
> Laura Ferreira adds 11.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
> Laia Flores is the team's top playmaker, dishing out 6.0 assists per game, while averaging 9.5 points per outing.
> Alyssa Raider (7.5 ppg) rounds out the top scoring threats for the Bulls.
> As a team, USF shooting 44.2% from the field and 35.5% from long range.
> The Bulls rank eighth nationally in turnovers, averaging only 11.6 per game.
> The Bulls are also in the top 25 in the country in threes made (8.8) and total rebounds (860).

LAST TIME OUT
> USF led for more than 25 minutes before Wichita State closed the game on a 16-2 run to hand the Bulls a 64-56 loss at Charles Koch Arena.
> USF saw its three-game winning streak come to an end after going 2-for-18 from the field in the decisive fourth quarter.
> Wichita State outscored the Bulls, 20-4, in the final period to secure its fourth straight win.
> Kitija Laksa tied for game high honors with 16 points.
> Maria Jespersen posted her second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

THE MATCH-UP
> USF owns the all-time series with the Owls, 10-2.
> Last year, the teams split the regular season series, 1-1, with each team winning on the road.
> USF captured the post-season meeting last year, winning 63-58, in the American semifinals.

LAST TIME THEY MET
> Temple was upended by #25 USF on on January 10, falling 89-73 to the Bulls at McGonigle Hall.
> Temple shot 50% from the field in the second half, holding the Bulls to 43.3% with just one three.
> However, USF held a 42-30 advantage on the glass, and a 32-26 edge in the paint to seal it.
> Tanaya Atkinson tallied 27 points with six rebounds and four assists to lead the Owls.
> Mia Davis finished with 15 points and eight boards.
> Emani Mayo ended her night with 11 points and a pair of steals.
> Four USF players finished in double figures, led by 29 points from Kitija Laksa.
> Maria Jespersen tallied 20 points, while Laura Ferreira added 12 points and five assists.
> Alba Prieto finished with 10 points in the win.

Women's Basketball Set for Sunday Clash at #23 USF

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Players Mentioned

Tanaya Atkinson

Khadijah Berger

Mia Davis

Emani Mayo

Desiree Oliver

Shantay Taylor

Temple University Athletics