Temple University Athletics
Friday, December 4
Philadelphia, Pa.
12:00 PM
Temple University
vs
Villanova
Women’s Basketball Set to Open 2020-21 Slate Friday Against Villanova
12.3.20 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA — The Temple women's basketball team will open the 2020-21 season at home against Big 5 rival Villanova on Friday, Dec. 4 at 12 p.m. in McGonigle Hall.
THE OWLS
> The Owls enter the new season following a 2019-20 mark of 16-15 (7-9 AAC). Temple finished eighth in the American following a 94-61 loss to top-seeded UConn in the AAC Quarterfinals.
> Senior standout Mia Davis led the Cherry and White last season, averaging a double-double of 18.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Davis racked up 18 double-doubles during the 2019-20 campaign, ranking sixth in the nation. The Baltimore, Md. native concluded the year with numerous awards including USBWA All-American, Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year, First Team All-Big 5 and First Team All-AAC.
> Davis has already racked up a number of preseason accolades this season as she has earned spots on both the 2020 Cheryl Miller Award Watch List and the 2020 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Watch List while being tabbed the American Athletic Conference Preseason co-Player of the Year.
> Sophomore Asonah Alexander returns in the backcourt for the Owls. Alexander dished out 117 assists during her rookie year to average 3.7 per game. The 5-10 guard finished the season ranked 12th in the country with her 2.54 assist turnover ratio.
> Also returning for Temple is junior forward Alexa Williamson. The Houston, Pa. native averaged 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds last season. Williamson delivered 17 blocks for the Owls last year, finishing second on the team.
> The Owls gained two stellar guards in Jasha Clinton and Kash Ayuso. Clinton was named the 2020 Virginia Girls Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.7 rebounds per game for her Princess Anne High School team. Ayuso averaged 18 points, five rebounds and five assists per game and capped off her impressive senior year as the Palm Beach 7A-6A Sun Sentinel Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
> Villanova is led by head coach Denise Dillon in her first year at the helm of the program. Dillon takes over following the retirement of Harry Perretta, who coach the Wildcats for 42 years. Dillon spent the last 17 season at Drexel.
> The Wildcats enter Friday's contest with a 2-0 record to start their season.
> Sophomore Maddy Siegrist averages a double-double of 26.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game to lead Villanova.
> Siegrist was named to the Katrina McClain Award Watch List prior to the start of the season, one of the major starting five awards presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
> On Nov. 30, Siegrist was named both the Big East Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness National Player of the Week after registering two double-doubles to open up the first week of action.
> Sarah Mortensen is the second Wildcat to average double-digits with her 11.5 points per game.
> The Wildcats' second leading rebounder is Brianna Herlihy with 7.5 boards per night.
> Guards Raven James and Bella Runyan averaged 4.0 assists per game over Villanova's first two contests.
> After their opening week, the Wildcats are shooting 48.3% from the field to rank third in the Big East.
LAST TIME OUT: Villanova 63, Quinnipiac 60
> Villanova won their second-straight game to open their 2020-21 slate with a 63-60 victory at Quinnipiac on Nov. 20.
> Siegrist led the Wildcats with 25 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist for her second consecutive double-double.
> Mortensen and Herlihy also finished with double-digits, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively.
> Bella Runyan led in the assists column with six handouts.
> Villanova outshot the Bobcats from the floor, 44.1% to 34.5%. Quinnipiac, however, held the edge from beyond the arc as they knocked down seven triples compared to the Wildcats two.
> Villanova opened the game on an 11-0 run over the first four minutes to set the tone of the game.
> The Bobcats outscored the Wildcats 21-16 in the fourth quarter to come within one point but they were never able to take hold of the lead and Villanova was able to walk away with their second victory of the season.
TEMPLE VS. VILLANOVA
> Villanova leads 31-15 in the all-time series against the Owls.
> However, Temple won their first three contests against the Wildcats (1975-77).
LAST TIME THEY MET: Temple 74, Villanova 69
> The Owls topped Villanova on Dec. 10, 2019 in McGonigle Hall after a close Big 5 matchup.
> Following a tight first quarter, Temple took over in the second and third to lead by nearly 18 points.
> Villanova rallied to cut the deficit to just one point late in the fourth quarter, but Temple got timely baskets and was perfect from the line in the final frame to seal the win.
> Temple out-shot the Wildcats, 41.7% to 37.7%, including going 9-17 from three point range (52.9%).
> The Owls also held a huge lead on the glass, out-rebounding Villanova, 47-34.
> Asonah Alexander tallied her second career double-double, with a stacked stat line of 19 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
> Mia Davis also notched a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
> Rounding out the box score, Alexa Williamson had eight points while senior Shannen Atkinson had six rebounds.
THE OWLS
> The Owls enter the new season following a 2019-20 mark of 16-15 (7-9 AAC). Temple finished eighth in the American following a 94-61 loss to top-seeded UConn in the AAC Quarterfinals.
> Senior standout Mia Davis led the Cherry and White last season, averaging a double-double of 18.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Davis racked up 18 double-doubles during the 2019-20 campaign, ranking sixth in the nation. The Baltimore, Md. native concluded the year with numerous awards including USBWA All-American, Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year, First Team All-Big 5 and First Team All-AAC.
> Davis has already racked up a number of preseason accolades this season as she has earned spots on both the 2020 Cheryl Miller Award Watch List and the 2020 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Watch List while being tabbed the American Athletic Conference Preseason co-Player of the Year.
> Sophomore Asonah Alexander returns in the backcourt for the Owls. Alexander dished out 117 assists during her rookie year to average 3.7 per game. The 5-10 guard finished the season ranked 12th in the country with her 2.54 assist turnover ratio.
> Also returning for Temple is junior forward Alexa Williamson. The Houston, Pa. native averaged 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds last season. Williamson delivered 17 blocks for the Owls last year, finishing second on the team.
> The Owls gained two stellar guards in Jasha Clinton and Kash Ayuso. Clinton was named the 2020 Virginia Girls Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.7 rebounds per game for her Princess Anne High School team. Ayuso averaged 18 points, five rebounds and five assists per game and capped off her impressive senior year as the Palm Beach 7A-6A Sun Sentinel Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
> Villanova is led by head coach Denise Dillon in her first year at the helm of the program. Dillon takes over following the retirement of Harry Perretta, who coach the Wildcats for 42 years. Dillon spent the last 17 season at Drexel.
> The Wildcats enter Friday's contest with a 2-0 record to start their season.
> Sophomore Maddy Siegrist averages a double-double of 26.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game to lead Villanova.
> Siegrist was named to the Katrina McClain Award Watch List prior to the start of the season, one of the major starting five awards presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
> On Nov. 30, Siegrist was named both the Big East Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness National Player of the Week after registering two double-doubles to open up the first week of action.
> Sarah Mortensen is the second Wildcat to average double-digits with her 11.5 points per game.
> The Wildcats' second leading rebounder is Brianna Herlihy with 7.5 boards per night.
> Guards Raven James and Bella Runyan averaged 4.0 assists per game over Villanova's first two contests.
> After their opening week, the Wildcats are shooting 48.3% from the field to rank third in the Big East.
LAST TIME OUT: Villanova 63, Quinnipiac 60
> Villanova won their second-straight game to open their 2020-21 slate with a 63-60 victory at Quinnipiac on Nov. 20.
> Siegrist led the Wildcats with 25 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist for her second consecutive double-double.
> Mortensen and Herlihy also finished with double-digits, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively.
> Bella Runyan led in the assists column with six handouts.
> Villanova outshot the Bobcats from the floor, 44.1% to 34.5%. Quinnipiac, however, held the edge from beyond the arc as they knocked down seven triples compared to the Wildcats two.
> Villanova opened the game on an 11-0 run over the first four minutes to set the tone of the game.
> The Bobcats outscored the Wildcats 21-16 in the fourth quarter to come within one point but they were never able to take hold of the lead and Villanova was able to walk away with their second victory of the season.
TEMPLE VS. VILLANOVA
> Villanova leads 31-15 in the all-time series against the Owls.
> However, Temple won their first three contests against the Wildcats (1975-77).
LAST TIME THEY MET: Temple 74, Villanova 69
> The Owls topped Villanova on Dec. 10, 2019 in McGonigle Hall after a close Big 5 matchup.
> Following a tight first quarter, Temple took over in the second and third to lead by nearly 18 points.
> Villanova rallied to cut the deficit to just one point late in the fourth quarter, but Temple got timely baskets and was perfect from the line in the final frame to seal the win.
> Temple out-shot the Wildcats, 41.7% to 37.7%, including going 9-17 from three point range (52.9%).
> The Owls also held a huge lead on the glass, out-rebounding Villanova, 47-34.
> Asonah Alexander tallied her second career double-double, with a stacked stat line of 19 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
> Mia Davis also notched a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
> Rounding out the box score, Alexa Williamson had eight points while senior Shannen Atkinson had six rebounds.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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