Temple University Athletics
Saturday, January 28
Philadelphia, Pa.
2:00 P.M.
Temple University
vs
UCF
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Women’s Basketball Returns Home to Host UCF
1.27.23 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (8-11, 3-4 AAC) returns to Liacouras Center following an 11 day break to face conference rival UCF (10-8, 1-5 AAC) Saturday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+/Varsity Network App). The Owls are coming off an impressive victory at Tulane Wednesday, where Temple triumphed over the Green Wave with just eight players available.
PROMOTIONS/THEMES
> Parent-Child Layup Day: Kids 6th grade and younger – with an accompanying adult – can score a basket on the court following the game. No RSVP required.
> Play4Kay Game: Players will be wearing pink during pregame warm-ups to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Fans are also encouraged to wear pink.
> Stars of Honor: Local elementary school children will be recognized on the court at halftime for their success in the classroom.
> Alumni game/recognition: Alumni will be recognized on the court during the second half.
LAST TIME OUT: Temple 68 @ Tulane 59
> Temple defeated Tulane, 68-59 to snap a three-game skid.
> Following a tightly contested first half, the Owls roared at the conclusion of the third quarter into the beginning of the fourth. At one point, Temple was on 14-0 run, shutting Tulane down for a 3 and a half straight minutes of game time.
> Four different Owls scored in double-figures. Sophomore wing Tiarra East starred with 20 points and 11 rebounds, her third double-double of the season.
THE OWLS
> Nelson has paced the Owls in scoring all season (15.1 ppg/6th AAC) and assists (4.1 apg/3rd AAC). She has scored in double-figures in six of the last seven games. Her 18 points are the most the point guard has scored since 1/7 at Cincinnati.
> East ranks second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and has become a force on the glass, leading the Owls in rebounds with 6.3 boards per contest. Against the Green Wave, her 20 points were the most she has scored since early December, while her 11 rebounds tied her career-high.
> Forward Ines Piper found her footing again against Tulane after a couple of down performances in the last two games. She scored six points, passed for two assists, blocked two shots, and grabbed seven rebounds. Her seven boards are her most since 12/11 against Penn.
> Shooting guard Tarriyonna Gary is in the midst of arguably her best stretch of games this season. She has scored in double-figures in three straight games for the first time since before Thanksgiving, averaging 14.7 ppg and put up 3.7 rpg. Gary is connecting on 44% of her threes in her last three outings.
SCOUTING UCF
> UCF has been one of the best teams in the American since 2016. From 2016-2022, the Knights earned a bid to either the NCAA tournament or WNIT in each season, including the NCAA in each of the last three seasons the tournament was held. Following the conclusion of last season, head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson stepped down from the role to a take the same position at Georgia.
> The squad is 10-8 this season and 1-5 in conference. Its lone victory came at the hands of Wichita State.
> The strength of UCF is in the post. Forward Destiny Thomas is averaging a double-double with 11.2 and 10.4 points and rebounds per game, respectively. Anzhané Hutton also stars at the forward position, putting up 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
> Sytia Messer is in her first season leading the Knights after spending three years at the helm of Tennessee Tech and several seasons as an assistant under Hall of Fame head coach Kim Mulkey. She is 64-49 in her career.
SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and UCF have played each other every season since Temple joined the AAC in 2013. The Owls are 9-9 all time against The Knights. The two sides met once prior to sharing a conference in 1995.
> The Cherry & White dominated the early portion of the series, winning seven straight games from 2014-2017. UCF has won eight of the last ten.
> Last season, UCF won both meetings between the two programs.
UP NEXT
> Temple plays at Liacouras Center once again Wednesday on February 1st on National Girls and Women in Sports Day (ESPN+/Varsity Network App). Tickets are available to purchase at Owlstix.com.
PROMOTIONS/THEMES
> Parent-Child Layup Day: Kids 6th grade and younger – with an accompanying adult – can score a basket on the court following the game. No RSVP required.
> Play4Kay Game: Players will be wearing pink during pregame warm-ups to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Fans are also encouraged to wear pink.
> Stars of Honor: Local elementary school children will be recognized on the court at halftime for their success in the classroom.
> Alumni game/recognition: Alumni will be recognized on the court during the second half.
LAST TIME OUT: Temple 68 @ Tulane 59
> Temple defeated Tulane, 68-59 to snap a three-game skid.
> Following a tightly contested first half, the Owls roared at the conclusion of the third quarter into the beginning of the fourth. At one point, Temple was on 14-0 run, shutting Tulane down for a 3 and a half straight minutes of game time.
> Four different Owls scored in double-figures. Sophomore wing Tiarra East starred with 20 points and 11 rebounds, her third double-double of the season.
THE OWLS
> Nelson has paced the Owls in scoring all season (15.1 ppg/6th AAC) and assists (4.1 apg/3rd AAC). She has scored in double-figures in six of the last seven games. Her 18 points are the most the point guard has scored since 1/7 at Cincinnati.
> East ranks second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and has become a force on the glass, leading the Owls in rebounds with 6.3 boards per contest. Against the Green Wave, her 20 points were the most she has scored since early December, while her 11 rebounds tied her career-high.
> Forward Ines Piper found her footing again against Tulane after a couple of down performances in the last two games. She scored six points, passed for two assists, blocked two shots, and grabbed seven rebounds. Her seven boards are her most since 12/11 against Penn.
> Shooting guard Tarriyonna Gary is in the midst of arguably her best stretch of games this season. She has scored in double-figures in three straight games for the first time since before Thanksgiving, averaging 14.7 ppg and put up 3.7 rpg. Gary is connecting on 44% of her threes in her last three outings.
SCOUTING UCF
> UCF has been one of the best teams in the American since 2016. From 2016-2022, the Knights earned a bid to either the NCAA tournament or WNIT in each season, including the NCAA in each of the last three seasons the tournament was held. Following the conclusion of last season, head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson stepped down from the role to a take the same position at Georgia.
> The squad is 10-8 this season and 1-5 in conference. Its lone victory came at the hands of Wichita State.
> The strength of UCF is in the post. Forward Destiny Thomas is averaging a double-double with 11.2 and 10.4 points and rebounds per game, respectively. Anzhané Hutton also stars at the forward position, putting up 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
> Sytia Messer is in her first season leading the Knights after spending three years at the helm of Tennessee Tech and several seasons as an assistant under Hall of Fame head coach Kim Mulkey. She is 64-49 in her career.
SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and UCF have played each other every season since Temple joined the AAC in 2013. The Owls are 9-9 all time against The Knights. The two sides met once prior to sharing a conference in 1995.
> The Cherry & White dominated the early portion of the series, winning seven straight games from 2014-2017. UCF has won eight of the last ten.
> Last season, UCF won both meetings between the two programs.
UP NEXT
> Temple plays at Liacouras Center once again Wednesday on February 1st on National Girls and Women in Sports Day (ESPN+/Varsity Network App). Tickets are available to purchase at Owlstix.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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