Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Princeton
Richardson Era Set to Begin With No. 24 Princeton
11.6.22 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Diane Richardson era is set to begin on North Broad with the 2021-22 season opener on Monday. The Owls will hit the road to face No. 24 Princeton. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
THE OWLS
> Temple was picked to finish seventh in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll. The Cherry & White enter the season following a 13-15 2021-22 campaign.
> The Owls' have refreshed the roster with eight new additions (seven transfers, one freshman). Several newcomers to the Owls' roster are looking to have large impacts. Aleah Nelson headlines the new faces. Nelson was a two-time All-CAA selection under Richardson at Towson. Last season, the Baltimore native was named First-Team All-CAA in 2021-22, she also finished second in the CAA and 26th in the nation in assists per game (5.3).
> Guard Jasha Clinton returns to the Owls for year three. Clinton was named Big 5 Rookie of the Year, as well as AAC All-Rookie in 2020-21. Last season, she ranked fourth in scoring with 6.4 point per contest and second in steals (27).
> Tiarra East is looking to build after finding her footing late in her freshman season. East earned her way onto the 2021-22 AAC All-Freshman Team after starting the last 12 games of her freshman year campaign. She set a career-high with 41 minutes at SMU in the penultimate game of the 2022 season.
LAST SEASON
> Last year was a season of streaks. The Owls stumbled out of the gate last season, losing three of their first five games.
> Temple proceeded to win three straight, with victories over Georgetown and Villanova, before losing three straight to enter conference play with a record of 5-6.
> The Cherry & White began conference play red-hot. The Owls took four of their first five conference matchups, with the lone loss coming in overtime against eventual conference champion South Florida.
> Temple struggled down the stretch, losing seven of their last eleven games. The Cherry & White entered the AAC tournament as the four seed but fell to fifth seeded SMU.
SCOUTING PRINCETON
> The Tigers earned a 25-5 record in 2021-22, including a 14-0 record in the Ivy League. Princeton won the Ivy League title and entered the NCAA tournament as an 11 seed. They defeated Kentucky in the First Round before falling to Indiana in the Second.
> Princeton graduated star guard Abby Meyers but return their other four starters from a season ago in addition to top bench option Maggie Connolly.
> Julia Cunningham picked up First Team All-Ivy last season while Ellie Mitchell earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
> Princeton became the first Ivy League women's team ever to earn an AP Preseason Poll ranking this season.
LAST TIME THEY MET: PRINCETON 59, TEMPLE 41
> Temple and Princeton reunited for the first time in 19 years early last season.
> Princeton got out to a large early lead, winning the first quarter by a score of 17-4.
> Temple clawed back within eight by the beginning of the fourth, but Princeton took the final frame by 11 points.
> Mia Davis: 11 points and three rebounds
> Aniya Gourdine: 9 points, 3 rebounds
> Jalynn Holmes: 9 points, 6 rebounds
UP NEXT
> The Owls open their home slate as they face BIG EAST foe Georgetown. Temple women's basketball returns to Liacouras Center as its regular home venue for the first time since the 2008-2009 season. Tickets can be purchased here.
