Women's Basketball Outlasts UCF

Wednesday, January 29

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 PM

Temple University

13-8,5-3AAC

UCF

11-8,3-4AAC

UCF

Temple

Women's Basketball Outlasts UCF

1.29.20 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA — In a game of runs, Temple held on for the final surge, outlasting visiting UCF in American women's basketball action on Wednesday night. The Owls improve to 13-8 overall, 5-3 in conference play. UCF falls to 11-8, 3-4 in the AAC.

Keys to the Game
> Despite seeing a lead as large as 12 slip away, Temple got hot when it counted, coming up with a two big defensive stops to finish out a gritty win.
> After a 30-30 halftime tie, Temple had a huge start to the third quarter, going up 48-36 and seemingly creating breathing room. However, UCF answered, getting the lead down to one.
> A back-and-fourth fourth quarter saw the Owls do just enough down the stretch, as Temple won its fifth conference game of the year.
> The Owls out-rebounded UCF 41-30 working around 18 turnovers.
> The Knights out-shot Temple by a slim 44% to 43% margin, but Temple racked up nine makes from long range while UCF had just three triples in the game.

Individual Highlights
> Sophomore Marissa Mackins led Temple with 22 points and five rebounds.
> Redshirt sophomore Ashley Jones tallied 13 points while graduate student Lena Niang scored 12 with a team-best nine rebounds.
> Junior Mia Davis ended her night with 12 points and seven boards with sophomore Alexa Williamson adding six points and seven rebounds.

First Quarter
> Temple had the upper hand in the first quarter, as Mackins started the game with a three which sparked an 8-2 run for the Owls.
> UCF cut it to 8-7 on a 5-0 spurt, but Niang and Williamson pushed the advantage back to five.
> A 7-3 Knights run again narrowed the Owls' advantage to one but a Mackins floater gave the Owls a 17-14 lead after the first.

Second Quarter
> UCF evened the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Owls, 16-13 in the frame.
> The Knights opened with four straight points to go take their first lead of the game, but Williamson and Davis put the Owls back on top, 21-18.
> The lead changed hands twice more, before settling on a 30-30 tie at the break.

Third Quarter
> Both teams went on significant runs in the third quarter, Temple to start and UCF to finish.
> Mackins was on fire in the frame, striking for 14 points, and leading Temple to an opening 13-2 run that put the Owls up 48-36.
> Then UCF took over, using a 13-5 surge, including scoring the final nine points of the quarter to cut it to 48-45 after three.

Fourth Quarter
> Temple turned a slim 52-51 lead into a seven point advantage as Jones struck for five points in an 8-0 Owls' run.
> A 7-2 UCF run followed as the Knights narrowed the gap to 62-60 with just over three minutes remaining.
> A pair of Mackins free throws and a Davis putback put the Owls up six, but again the Knights answered, making it a 66-65 game with 34 seconds left.
> After coming up scoreless, Temple got a big defensive stop on the next play and made it 67-65 with a free throw.
> A last second jumper for UCF then fell short as Temple hung on for the victory.

Up Next
> Temple is off until next Wednesday when the Owls take on Wichita State at home at 7:00 p.m.