Women's Basketball Downs USF for Fifth Straight Win

Thursday, January 16

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 PM

Temple University

11-6,4-1AAC

USF

10-7,2-1AAC

South Fla.

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Women's Basketball Downs USF for Fifth Straight Win

1.16.20 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA - The Temple women's basketball team held on for a thrilling 69-66 win over perennial American Athletic Conference powerhouse, USF, on Thursday night at McGonigle Hall. The win extends the Owls' win streak to five, as Temple improves to 11-6 overall, 4-1 in conference play. USF falls to 10-7, 2-1 in the American.

Keys to the Game
> After a tight first half where neither team led by more than three points, Temple created separation with a huge 24-13 third quarter.
> The Owls led by as many as 18, before USF mounted a fourth quarter comeback.
> The visitors got the lead down to two points late in the final frame, but Temple held on for the win.
> Temple worked around a 43-31 rebounding edge by USF to out-shoot the Bulls, 43.6% to 37.3%.
> The Owls also connected for nine threes as they recorded only their third ever win over USF and first since 2017.

Individual Highlights
> Junior Mia Davis led all players with 25 points, adding eight boards and three assists.
> Redshirt sophomore Ashley Jones had 16 points, six rebounds, and four helpers.
> Graduate student Lena Niang ended her night with nine points, while sophomore Marissa Mackins had eight, and freshman Asonah Alexander, seven.
> Senior Shannen Atkinson rounded out the box score with seven rebounds.

First Quarter
> Both teams traded runs in the first frame as the lead changed hands three times.
> Temple got on the board first, as Davis connected for a three to start the scoring, but USF quickly answered, going up 5-3.
> The Owls then rattled off a 9-3 run, capped by three the hard way from Davis to lead 12-8.
> The Bulls battled back to tie things at 12-12, but Temple scored four of the final six points to lead 16-14 after one.

Second Quarter
> The second quarter mirrored the first with both teams making runs to take slim leads.
> USF struck first with an 8-3 surge to take ta 22-19 lead. Temple responded with 10 of the next 12 points, including five from Davis, to go up 29-22.
> The Bulls countered with seven unanswered to lead 30-29 but Jones scored twice for Temple to close the half with a 33-30 Owls' edge.

Third Quarter
> Hot shooting Temple extended its lead to 14 points with a 24-13 bulge in the third quarter.
> The Owls opened on a 16-4 run to take their largest advantage of the game (49-35), as Alexander struck for a pair of triples.
> USF cut it to 51-39, but Temple kept pouring it on, making it an 18 point game with under a minute to play.
> The Bulls were able to close the gap slightly to end the quarter, scoring four straight to make it 57-43.

Fourth Quarter
> USF got the lead down to single digits, using an 8-3 run to cut it to 60-51 midway through play.
> Mackins temporarily halted the surge with a jumper at the top of the key to push it back to an 11 point edge.
> USF kept rallying, bringing it all the way down to two points, as Sydni Harvey nailed a jumper to make it 66-64 with 1:46 left.
> After a Mackins free throw and a huge defensive board from Davis, two Temple free throws put the Owls up 69-64 with 13 seconds to play.
> USF made a pair from the line with under four seconds to play, but that's as close as they would get, as Temple held on for the gritty win.

Up Next
> Temple hits the road for a Sunday contest at Wichita State. Tip off is slated for 3:00 p.m. EST.