Streak Snapped: Women's Basketball Drops Close Contest to Cincinnati

Wednesday, January 13

Philadelphia, Pa.

3:30 PM

Temple University

4-4,4-1AAC

Cincinnati

3-7,2-4AAC

Cincinnati

Temple

Streak Snapped: Women's Basketball Drops Close Contest to Cincinnati

1.13.21 | Women's Basketball

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PHILADELPHIA — The Temple women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the American Athletic Conference season on Wednesday afternoon, falling 71-65 to visiting Cincinnati at McGonigle Hall. The loss snapped a five game win streak for the Owls, who move to 4-1 in conference play, 4-4 overall. Cincinnati improves to 2-4 in the conference and 2-8 overall.

How It Happened
> Playing without junior Alexa Williamson, the Owls' second leading scorer, Temple was unable to maintain a lead despite going up by as many as six in the contest.
> Cincinnati had a slim one point edge at the half, which Temple erased quickly in the third.
> However, the Bearcats used strong free throw shooting and surged forward to lead by two at the end of the third, 51-49.
> Temple took the lead in the fourth quarter, but as was the story of the whole game, they couldn't maintain it. A late push by the Bearcats put the game just out of reach, as Temple snapped its conference win streak.
> Cincinnati out-shot the Owls 44% to 39%, working around a 1-11 (9%) performance from beyond the arc.
> The Bearcats also held an edge on the glass, pulling down 44 rebounds to Temple's 32.

Statistically Speaking
> Freshman Jasha Clinton had a career performance, with a collegiate best 23 points, also dishing out five assists.
> Senior Mia Davis tallied 20 points with six boards.
> Sophomore Asonah Alexander had nine assists and six rebounds, while senior Emani Mayo had nine points.
> Freshman Kash Ayuso rounded out the box score with seven points and six rebounds.

First Quarter:
> Temple fell behind 4-0, but back-to-back threes from Clinton and Davis started a 9-2 run for the the Owls.
> Cincinnati used a 6-0 surge to go up 12-9 with under three to play, but another three from Clinton tied the game at 12-12.
> The Bearcats then closed the frame by scoring six of the final nine points to take an 18-15 lead.

Second Quarter:
> Temple opened the second quarter on an 11-2 run, punctuated by another Clinton three that put the Owls up 26-20.
> Cincinnati chipped away at the lead, and used a late 5-0 surge to go up 34-32.
> The Owls got a free throw to close the second quarter scoring, trading the Bearcats 34-33.

Third Quarter:
> Cincinnati slightly increased its lead, outscoring the Owls 17-16 in the third.
> Temple struck first on a lay-up from Davis, but the teams traded baskets until Cincinnati scored six unanswered to go up 44-30 with six minutes to play.
> The Owls had the edge down the stretch, with threes from Kash Ayuso and Davis, but still trailed 51-49 after three.

Fourth Quarter:
> Temple needed just three minutes to take over the lead in the fourth, as Rayniah Walker scored four quick points as part of a 8-4 edge that made it 57-55 Owls.
> Cincinnati answered and went up by two on a pair of free throws, before Clinton struck for back-to-back buckets to put the Owls up 61-58 with under five to play.
> The Bearcats then used a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to go up four with 52 seconds remaining.
> Temple pulled to within two points, but a long possession from Cincinnati, ending with an offensive board and jumper, put the game out of reach, as the Bearcats led 69-65 with 12.5 seconds on the clock.
> The Owls were unable to score on the next two possessions, and Cincinnati held on for the win.

Up Next:
> Temple returns to action January 20 at Houston on ESPN+.