Temple University Athletics

Sunday, November 20
Philadelphia, Pa.
5:00 P.M.

Temple University

vs

Villanova

Tiarra East Action Shot
Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Women’s Basketball Opens Big 5 Play with No. 24 Villanova

11.19.22 | Women's Basketball

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (1-2, 0-0 AAC) will face its second ranked opponent so far in the 2022-23 campaign this Sunday as No. 24 Villanova comes to Philadelphia. This will be Head Coach Diane Richardson's first Big 5 game.

LAST TIME OUT: Temple 54, @ St. John's 66
> The Owls fell to the St. John's Red Storm on the road in Queens.

> The contest was close for nearly the entire game, with the score differential rarely exceeding four points prior to the final five minutes. St. John's ended the match on an 11-0 run.

> Tiarra East had another strong showing. The sophomore led all Temple players in points (15) and rebounds (7). Her 15 fell one short of her career-high.

THE OWLS
> East has been an absolute standout so far in 2022-23. The Louisville, Ky. native has scored in double figures and led the team in boards in all three of Temple's games this season. East is averaging 13.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest, leading the team in both categories. She put up her first career double-double in the season opener against No. 24 Princeton. The wing earned her way onto the AAC and Big 5 Weekly Honor Roll Monday.
> Aleah Nelson scored 11 points, going 4-9 from the field against St. John's. She also put up six assists and a season-high six rebounds. She ranks second on the team in points (13.0) and leads the squad in assists (5.3) per game.

> Ines Piper leads the team in rebounds per game (5.0). She grabbed eight boards and scored a season-high five points, including her first Division I three pointer against The Red Storm.

SCOUTING NO. 24 VILLANOVA
> Last season, the Wildcats concluded with a record of 24-9, the most wins the programs has had since the 2002-03 campaign. Villanova advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for their first appearance since 2017-18.
> 2022-23 looks to be another strong season for the program. VU is 3-0, with a victory over then-24 ranked Princeton on the road. The Wildcats also have defeated Marist and UPenn by 20+ points each.
> Forward Maddy Siegrist ranks among the best players in women's college basketball. The senior earned BIG EAST Player of the Year, Big 5 Player of the Year, and third-team All-America honors at the conclusion of last season. She is averaging 25.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per game thus far in 2022-23.
> Denise Dillon is in her 20th season as a head coach and 3rd on the Main Line. Before taking over at Villanova, she was the head coach at City 6 school Drexel. Dillon is 373-227 overall and 44-16 at Villanova.

 SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and Villanova met at 'Nova last season. The game was airtight from wire to wire, with 14 lead changes. Temple scored eight of the last ten points to secure a 68-62 victory.
> The two sides have met 48 times. Temple has a record of 16-32 against Villanova, the two have met in 49 straight seasons.

UP NEXT
> Temple will head to West Philadelphia to battle Saint Joseph's in its second straight Big 5 matchup. The 5 p.m. matchup will stream on ESPN+. 

Players Mentioned

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Ep. 11: American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti
Monday, October 13
Ep. 10: Temple Homecoming Preview; Volleyball Assistant Coach Taylor Davenport
Tuesday, October 07
Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
Friday, October 03
Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30