Slow Start Trips Women's Basketball in Loss to UCF

Saturday, February 10

McGonigle Hall

2:00 p.m.

Temple University

10-14, 2-9AAC

UCF

17-8, 9-3AAC

UCF

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Slow Start Trips Women's Basketball in Loss to UCF

2.10.18 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Post-UCF Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple women's basketball team made a late push, but couldn't overcome a slow offensive start, as the Owls fell 64-57 at the hands of visiting UCF on Saturday. The loss sets Temple's record to 10-14 overall, 2-9 in conference play, while the Knights improve to 17-8 overall, 9-3 in The American.

KEYS TO THE GAME
> Temple put up a solid first half defensive effort, but shot only 18.5% (5-27) in the first 20 minutes of play.
> UCF shot 48% for the game (24-50), with better than 40% accuracy in all four quarters.
> After being held to just 30 points in the first three quarters combined, the Owls made a late push, scoring 27 points in the final frame.
> However, UCF got key stops when needed, while also making 16 fourth quarter free throws, holding on for the seven point victory.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
> Senior Tanaya Atkinson, who was largely quiet offensively in the first half, finished with a team-high 17 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter.
> Atkinson also grabbed seven rebounds and is now just 13 away from becoming the second Temple women's basketball player in history to pull down 1,000 career boards.
> Rookie Emani Mayo tallied 13 points with a pair of assists in the contest.
> Freshman Mia Davis was just shy of a double-double with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
> Senior Khadijah Berger finished with six points and a game-best six assists.

FIRST QUARTER
> A defensive minded first quarter saw Temple trail 10-5.
> Emani Mayo started the Owls scoring with a three, before UCF scored six straight.
> Mayo struck again to cut it to 6-5, but UCF scored four in a row to close the frame.

SECOND QUARTER
> Atkinson notched her first bucket of the game to open the second quarter, before an 8-2 UCF run put them up nine.
> Temple got one back down the stretch, closing the quarter by scoring five of the final nine points, but UCF led 22-15 at the half.

THIRD QUARTER
> After Temple cut it to a six-point game (26-20), a 14-5 UCF run put the visitors up 15.
> The Owls were able to get some back, outscoring UCF 5-0 to close the frame trailing 40-30.

FOURTH QUARTER
> Temple made it a six point game early in the fourth quarter (40-34), but UCF pushed it back to 14 with an 11-3 run.
> A three point play from Atkinson got the lead down to single digits, but the Knights were solid from the free throw line, going up 61-49 with 1:29 on the clock.
> The Owls made a frantic push down the stretch, closing the game on an 8-3 surge, but there was not enough time to complete the comeback.

UP NEXT
> Temple will make its first ever trip to Wichita State on Wednesday.
> The Owls and the Shockers will play at 8:00 p.m. EST.