Women's Basketball Downs SMU to Open Conference Play

Sunday, December 20

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 PM

Temple University

1-3,1-0AAC

SMU

0-6,0-2AAC

SMU

Temple

Women's Basketball Downs SMU to Open Conference Play

12.20.20 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Post Game Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA — The Temple women's basketball team opened American Athletic Conference play with a decisive 73-57 victory over visiting SMU on Sunday afternoon at McGonigle Hall. The win improves the Owls to 1-4 overall with a 1-0 start in the AAC. SMU dips to 0-6, 0-2 in the AAC.

How It Happened
> Temple used a late first quarter run to take a lead it would not relinquish.
> SMU hung around, staying within three at the half.
> A huge third quarter saw the Owls outscore the Mustangs 24-6 putting the game mostly out of reach.
> The Owls then held off some late fourth quarter pressure from SMU to seal the win.
> Temple held SMU to just 28% shooting, while holding a 50-43 rebounding edge.

Statistical Leaders
> Senior Mia Davis led the Owls on both ends of the floor, notching her second double-double of the season and the 37th of her career, finishing with 22 points and 15 rebounds.
> Junior Alexa Williamson was one point off her career best, tallying a season-best 15 points.
> Freshman Jasha Clinton finished with a team-best five assists, adding seven points and seven boards.
> Sophomore Asonah Alexander chipped in with six points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while graduate student Jada Graves and sophomore Rayniah Walker each added six points.

First Quarter: Temple 18, SMU 13
> Tulsa got off to an 8-2 start, backed by a pair of early threes, extending the lead to 11-6 at the midway point.
> The Owls then rattled off a 9-0 run to lead 15-11 with under 1:30 to play.
> SMU netted a pair of free throws, but Temple scored the final three of the frame to lead 18-13.

Second Quarter: Temple 31, SMU 18
> Temple increased its lead to 24-12 early in the second and held a 27-18 advantage at the five minute mark.
> The Owls kept their advantage to nine until a 5-0 spurt saw SMU get to within six (29-23) with 2:44 on the clock.
> Temple increased the lead back to eight, but another 5-0 SMU run set the halftime score to 31-28 with the Owls clinging to a three point edge.

Third Quarter: Temple 55, SMU 34
> A 9-0 start to the third saw Temple increase its lead to 12 (42-30), the largest of the game for either team.
> SMU got on the board, but the Owls' offense rolled, and the defense forced six turnovers to push the Temple advantage to 48-32.
> The Mustangs would get no closer, as Temple finished the quarter with a 24-6 advantage to lead by 21 (55-34).

Fourth Quarter: Temple 73, SMU 56
> SMU had a slight edge in the fourth, closing the gap slightly, but not enough to change the outcome.

Up Next:
> Temple continues conference play on Wednesday hosting Tulsa for an 11:00 am tip-off.