Temple University Athletics
Tuesday, November 5
Philadelphia, Pa.
6:00 PM
Temple University
vs
Fairfield
Women’s Basketball Opens 2019-20 Slate Tuesday Evening Against Fairfield
11.4.19 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple women's basketball team will open the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, hosting Fairfield University at McGonigle Hall for a 6 p.m tip-off.
THE OWLS
> Temple returns to the court a year after a disappointing 11-19 season. The Owls finished sixth in the American Athletic Conference with a record of 7-9 and ended their season after a heartbreaking 59-58 loss to 11th-seeded Memphis in the AAC First Round.
> Junior captain Mia Davis led the Owls last year in both scoring and rebounding. The Baltimore, Md. native is on pace to become the 25th player in program history to join the 1000 point club.
> Rounding out the junior class are the Mayo twins: Emani and Nicolette. Emani ended her second year on North Broad Street with 44 assists to finish third for the Owls. Nicolette, also a team captain this season, played in six games during her sophomore campaign and registered her first career points against ECU on Jan. 26, 2019.
> Also returning for Temple is three-point threat Marissa Mackins. The sophomore guard led the Owls with 57 shots from beyond the arc and her 85% free-throw percentage during her rookie season.
> Returner Alexa Williamson will be a strong presence in the post for the Owls. The sophomore started in seven games during her first year at Temple while averaging 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
> Also aiding the Owls down low are Destiny Samuel, Shannen Atkinson and Shantay Taylor. Samuel sat out her freshman season due to injury, but the athletic 6' 2" forward has the ability to make strong finishes in the paint. Atkinson started in nine out of 10 games last year before sitting the remainder of the season due to injury. The senior center collected a career-high 12 rebounds against Radford, while adding five points and three blocks.
> Taylor started 20 of 26 games played during her junior season. The Columbia, S.C. native ended the 2018-19 year with double-digit points in back-to-back games and a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds in the American Athletic Conference First Round game against Memphis.
> Graduate student Lena Niang returns for her final season on North Broad Street. After being named to the Senegal national team over the summer and competing in the FIBA Africa Women's Championship, Niang is ready to make an impact for the Owls. The sharp-shooter poses a threat from three-point range after finishing third on the team with 39 three pointers and second in three-point shooting percentage last season.
> Hitting the court for the first time in the Cherry and White is redshirt sophomore Ashley Jones. The point guard sat the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules. During her freshman year at West Virginia, Jones finished second in the assist column with 96.
> The Owls gained two stellar rookies in Asonah Alexander and Rayniah Walker. Both are 5-10 agile guards who pose a threat from three-point range and in the paint. Alexander will play a key role in setting up her teammates for excellent scoring opportunities.
SCOUTING FAIRFIELD
> Head coach Joe Frager enters his 13th year at the helm of the Fairfield women's basketball program.
> The Stags finished the 2018-19 campaign with an overall record of 11-20 while finishing 7-11 in the MAAC. In the 2019-20 preseason poll, Fairfield was selected to finish sixth in the conference.
> Lou Lopez-Senechal was tabbed MAAC Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Lopez-Senechal paced the Stags with 11.8 points per game despite missing the first nine games of the season. The forward was the only member of the Fairfield squad to earn preseason recognition as she was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team.
> Amongst the key returners for Fairfield are Katie Armstrong and Sam Kramer. Armstrong finished last season third on the team with 326 points to average 10.5 per game. Kramer dished out 105 assists on the year to rank second-best for the Stags.
TEMPLE VS. FAIRFIELD
> Temple is 1-0 all-time against Fairfield. The two played against each other for the first time on Dec. 22, 2016.
LAST TIME THEY MET
> In their first-ever meeting, the Owls defeated the Stags 73-59.
> Temple shot 41.3% from the field, holding Fairfield to 36.8%.
> Alliya Butts led the Owls with 26 points, knocking down six shots from beyond the arc while collecting five steals.
> Two Owls registered double-doubles as Feyonda Fitzgerald tallied 12 points and 12 assists and Tanaya Atkinson recorded 14 points and 15 rebounds.
> Samantha Cooper paced the Stags with 21 points and eight rebounds.
THE OWLS
> Temple returns to the court a year after a disappointing 11-19 season. The Owls finished sixth in the American Athletic Conference with a record of 7-9 and ended their season after a heartbreaking 59-58 loss to 11th-seeded Memphis in the AAC First Round.
> Junior captain Mia Davis led the Owls last year in both scoring and rebounding. The Baltimore, Md. native is on pace to become the 25th player in program history to join the 1000 point club.
> Rounding out the junior class are the Mayo twins: Emani and Nicolette. Emani ended her second year on North Broad Street with 44 assists to finish third for the Owls. Nicolette, also a team captain this season, played in six games during her sophomore campaign and registered her first career points against ECU on Jan. 26, 2019.
> Also returning for Temple is three-point threat Marissa Mackins. The sophomore guard led the Owls with 57 shots from beyond the arc and her 85% free-throw percentage during her rookie season.
> Returner Alexa Williamson will be a strong presence in the post for the Owls. The sophomore started in seven games during her first year at Temple while averaging 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
> Also aiding the Owls down low are Destiny Samuel, Shannen Atkinson and Shantay Taylor. Samuel sat out her freshman season due to injury, but the athletic 6' 2" forward has the ability to make strong finishes in the paint. Atkinson started in nine out of 10 games last year before sitting the remainder of the season due to injury. The senior center collected a career-high 12 rebounds against Radford, while adding five points and three blocks.
> Taylor started 20 of 26 games played during her junior season. The Columbia, S.C. native ended the 2018-19 year with double-digit points in back-to-back games and a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds in the American Athletic Conference First Round game against Memphis.
> Graduate student Lena Niang returns for her final season on North Broad Street. After being named to the Senegal national team over the summer and competing in the FIBA Africa Women's Championship, Niang is ready to make an impact for the Owls. The sharp-shooter poses a threat from three-point range after finishing third on the team with 39 three pointers and second in three-point shooting percentage last season.
> Hitting the court for the first time in the Cherry and White is redshirt sophomore Ashley Jones. The point guard sat the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules. During her freshman year at West Virginia, Jones finished second in the assist column with 96.
> The Owls gained two stellar rookies in Asonah Alexander and Rayniah Walker. Both are 5-10 agile guards who pose a threat from three-point range and in the paint. Alexander will play a key role in setting up her teammates for excellent scoring opportunities.
SCOUTING FAIRFIELD
> Head coach Joe Frager enters his 13th year at the helm of the Fairfield women's basketball program.
> The Stags finished the 2018-19 campaign with an overall record of 11-20 while finishing 7-11 in the MAAC. In the 2019-20 preseason poll, Fairfield was selected to finish sixth in the conference.
> Lou Lopez-Senechal was tabbed MAAC Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Lopez-Senechal paced the Stags with 11.8 points per game despite missing the first nine games of the season. The forward was the only member of the Fairfield squad to earn preseason recognition as she was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team.
> Amongst the key returners for Fairfield are Katie Armstrong and Sam Kramer. Armstrong finished last season third on the team with 326 points to average 10.5 per game. Kramer dished out 105 assists on the year to rank second-best for the Stags.
TEMPLE VS. FAIRFIELD
> Temple is 1-0 all-time against Fairfield. The two played against each other for the first time on Dec. 22, 2016.
LAST TIME THEY MET
> In their first-ever meeting, the Owls defeated the Stags 73-59.
> Temple shot 41.3% from the field, holding Fairfield to 36.8%.
> Alliya Butts led the Owls with 26 points, knocking down six shots from beyond the arc while collecting five steals.
> Two Owls registered double-doubles as Feyonda Fitzgerald tallied 12 points and 12 assists and Tanaya Atkinson recorded 14 points and 15 rebounds.
> Samantha Cooper paced the Stags with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Players Mentioned
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