Women’s Basketball Dominates Memphis, 80-69 in Conference Opener

Friday, December 30

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 P.M.

Temple University

6-7,1-0AAC

Memphis

8-6,0-1AAC

Memphis

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Women’s Basketball Dominates Memphis, 80-69 in Conference Opener

12.30.22 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (6-7, 1-0 AAC) opened conference play with an 80-69 victory over the Memphis Tigers (8-6, 0-1 AAC). The Owls dominated play for a majority of the game, gaining a lead of as many as 21 points in the third quarter. Point guard Aleah Nelson starred for the Cherry & White, tying for the game-high with 20 points, as well as eight rebounds, and a game-high six assists.

First Quarter: Temple 15, Memphis 23
> Memphis came out of the gate on fire. The Tigers got out to an early 7-0 lead in the first two minutes.
> Memphis maintained the lead for the reminder of the period, building it to as many as ten points.
> Tarriyonna Gary led the team in scoring in the first frame, with five points.

Second Quarter: Temple 45, Memphis 34
> The Owls were hot from beyond the arc to start the second. Gary had one, while Nelson hit three three-pointers in four attempts in the quarter. Her second triple pulled the Owls within one with 5:30 to go. As a team, the Owls shot 71% from beyond in Q2.
> Temple took the lead with 4:11 remaining in the quarter off a Caranda Perea layup, putting TU up 32-31.
> The Tigers regained briefly at 33-32, it would be the last time they led for the game.
> Memphis did not score in the final three minutes, finding themselves on the wrong side of a 13-0 Temple run until Dstyne Jackson hit the free throw with eight seconds on the clock. The Owls concluded the period on a 21-3 span.

Third Quarter: Temple 68, Memphis 50
> Aleah Nelson stayed hot to start the second half, staying perfect from beyond, going three for three for nine points before the five minute mark in the quarter.
> At the media timeout, Temple had outscored Memphis 17-7. Jasha Clinton contributed six, while Aleah Nelson had nine in the 3rd quarter alone.
> Memphis went on a quick 6-0 run due to a Temple TO, but a Gourdine driving layup with 1:36 remaining was the first of two Temple baskets to close out the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter: Temple 80, Memphis 69
> Multiple whistles led to a slow start to the 4th, as both teams scored totaled for eight points at the 7:00 mark.
> Memphis scored three consecutive baskets of their own, forcing Diane Richardson to call a timeout, pulling Temple's lead down to 14 with under 4:00 in the 4Q.
> Both teams struggled offensively late in the quarter. Temple didn't score a basket for over four minutes, while Memphis hit only one of their last seven shots.
> The lack of Temple offense allowed Memphis to pull within 11, but the Tigers had too little, too late.

Games Notes
> Nelson set a season-high with her eight rebounds and was one short of her career-high (9).
>East scored 12 points, this is the fourth time in the last five games East has cracked double figures.
> Clinton had her second straight game shooting over 50% from the field. The guard went 7-10 for 17 points.
> Temple's 20 assists as a team set a new season-high, besting 18 against UMBC.

Up Next
The Owls will hit the road for the first of a two-game road trip. Temple will head south to face conference favorite USF in Tampa. The game will be nationally broadcasted on ESPNU.