Temple University Athletics
Thursday, November 28
Cancun, Mexico
9:00 PM
Temple University
vs
North Carolina
Women’s Basketball to Face North Carolina in First Game of Cancun Challenge
11.27.19 | Women's Basketball
CANCUN, Mexico -- The Temple women's basketball team is set for a 9 p.m. tip Thursday evening against the University of North Carolina at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya for their first game of the Cancun Challenge.
THE OWLS
> The Owls arrive south of the border with an overall record of 3-2 and a conference record of 0-1.
> Temple enters their first game in Cancun following a 72-61 victory over Bucknell on Nov. 20 in Lewisburg, Pa. The Owls shot a season-best 55.1% from the field to earn their fifth win of the year.
> Mia Davis leads the Owls and the American Athletic Conference with 21.5 points per game. She adds 9.3 rebounds per game and holds a team-best 49.5% shooting percentage.
> Ashley Jones adds 17.7 points for Temple while dishing out 30 assists on the year.
> Freshman Asonah Alexander ties Jones for a team-best 30 assists to average 5.0 per game. The rookie's assist/turnover ratio of 3.3 ranks first in the American.
> Three-point queen Marissa Mackins has knocked down 17 treys thus far this season to lead Temple and rank third in three-pointers made in the conference.
LAST TIME OUT: Temple 72, Bucknell 61
> Temple registered a season-best 55.1% from the field, going 27-for-49 from the floor.
> Bucknell outrebounded the Owls 33-32, including 16 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points for the Bison.
> After trailing at halftime, Temple finished the second half outscoring Bucknell 40-28.
> The Owls shot 78.6% from the foul line while Bucknell recorded a 71.4% free throw percentage.
> The Bison were held to a 20.8% three-point shooting percentage, making only five from beyond the arc. Temple finished 7-for-16 (48.3%) from three-point range.
> Jones led all players with a career-high 24 points. The redshirt sophomore added five rebounds and two assists to her stat line.
> Davis registered her fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
> Lena Niang poured in a season-best 17 points as she knocked down a career-high four three-pointers. Niang collected four boards and added a monster block for the Owls.
> Shannen Atkinson was a force in the post, tying her career-high of four blocks.
> Alexander led Temple in assists as she tied her career-high of eight.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
> The Tar Heels arrive in Cancun with an undefeated 4-0 record. North Carolina earned convincing wins over Western Carolina (92-55), Navy (80-40), Charleston Southern (85-54) and Elon (76-46).
> Taylor Koenen leads North Carolina with 17.0 points per game. Malu Tshitenge averages a double-double for the Tar Heels with 15.8 points and an ACC best 10.5 rebounds per game.
> Tshitenge was named ACC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 18 after averaging a double-double over a two-game stretch.
> Wade Watch List candidate Janelle Bailey adds 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for North Carolina.
TEMPLE VS. NORTH CAROLINA
> North Carolina leads 3-0 in the all-time series against the Owls, with their first meeting happening on Dec. 10, 1984.
> The last time the two programs met was Dec. 6, 1986 in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels rolled past Temple for a 94-65 victory.
LAST TIME THEY MET: UNC 94, Temple 65 (12/6/86)
> Dilly Baldwin led Temple with 14 points while Dori Barton chipped in 13 points and six rebounds.
> Merida Grant registered four blocks for the Owls to lead all players.
> Dawn Royster paced the Tar Heels with her double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
THE OWLS
> The Owls arrive south of the border with an overall record of 3-2 and a conference record of 0-1.
> Temple enters their first game in Cancun following a 72-61 victory over Bucknell on Nov. 20 in Lewisburg, Pa. The Owls shot a season-best 55.1% from the field to earn their fifth win of the year.
> Mia Davis leads the Owls and the American Athletic Conference with 21.5 points per game. She adds 9.3 rebounds per game and holds a team-best 49.5% shooting percentage.
> Ashley Jones adds 17.7 points for Temple while dishing out 30 assists on the year.
> Freshman Asonah Alexander ties Jones for a team-best 30 assists to average 5.0 per game. The rookie's assist/turnover ratio of 3.3 ranks first in the American.
> Three-point queen Marissa Mackins has knocked down 17 treys thus far this season to lead Temple and rank third in three-pointers made in the conference.
LAST TIME OUT: Temple 72, Bucknell 61
> Temple registered a season-best 55.1% from the field, going 27-for-49 from the floor.
> Bucknell outrebounded the Owls 33-32, including 16 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points for the Bison.
> After trailing at halftime, Temple finished the second half outscoring Bucknell 40-28.
> The Owls shot 78.6% from the foul line while Bucknell recorded a 71.4% free throw percentage.
> The Bison were held to a 20.8% three-point shooting percentage, making only five from beyond the arc. Temple finished 7-for-16 (48.3%) from three-point range.
> Jones led all players with a career-high 24 points. The redshirt sophomore added five rebounds and two assists to her stat line.
> Davis registered her fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
> Lena Niang poured in a season-best 17 points as she knocked down a career-high four three-pointers. Niang collected four boards and added a monster block for the Owls.
> Shannen Atkinson was a force in the post, tying her career-high of four blocks.
> Alexander led Temple in assists as she tied her career-high of eight.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
> The Tar Heels arrive in Cancun with an undefeated 4-0 record. North Carolina earned convincing wins over Western Carolina (92-55), Navy (80-40), Charleston Southern (85-54) and Elon (76-46).
> Taylor Koenen leads North Carolina with 17.0 points per game. Malu Tshitenge averages a double-double for the Tar Heels with 15.8 points and an ACC best 10.5 rebounds per game.
> Tshitenge was named ACC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 18 after averaging a double-double over a two-game stretch.
> Wade Watch List candidate Janelle Bailey adds 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for North Carolina.
TEMPLE VS. NORTH CAROLINA
> North Carolina leads 3-0 in the all-time series against the Owls, with their first meeting happening on Dec. 10, 1984.
> The last time the two programs met was Dec. 6, 1986 in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels rolled past Temple for a 94-65 victory.
LAST TIME THEY MET: UNC 94, Temple 65 (12/6/86)
> Dilly Baldwin led Temple with 14 points while Dori Barton chipped in 13 points and six rebounds.
> Merida Grant registered four blocks for the Owls to lead all players.
> Dawn Royster paced the Tar Heels with her double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Players Mentioned
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