Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Women's Basketball Set for Second Season Under Diane Richardson
10.8.23 | Women's Basketball
The Temple Owls women's basketball team will begin the 2023-24 season on Nov. 6 against Delaware State to tip-off the second year of the Diane Richardson era.
It will have been 245 days since Mar. 6 when Richardson's inaugural campaign came to a close in the American Athletic Conference tournament at the hands of Wichita State on March 6. The Owls concluded last season with just eight available players, with an additional two players sitting out the year. Of the ten players who ended last season on the roster, eight return. Since the 2022-23 season ended, Richardson and her staff have been hard at work retooling and reloading the roster with new talent. Six new players grace the roster this season to join the eight returners.
Last season, the Cherry & White backcourt scored 72% of the total points generated by the Owls. This year, the backcourt figures to be an area of strength once again. Five guards have made at least 30 starts in their careers. Aleah Nelson will once again run point for Temple after leading the team with 15.4 points and 4.4 assists per game last season. For the third straight season, the Baltimore native was named All-Conference, earning All-AAC honors. Nelson will be joined in the backcourt by Kendall Currence, a 2022 First Team All-CAA selection, after missing last season due to injury. Other notable returners on the perimeter include do-it-all all big guard Tiarra East (12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and elite three-point shooter Tarriyonna Gary (.370 3pt %). The Owls also added Vanderbilt graduate transfer Demi Washington, and highly sought-after point guard Tristen Taylor.
On the interior, Temple returns 33 starts between Ines Piper and Denise Solis. Piper impressed as a defensive force last season, grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game and a team-leading 34 blocks. Rayne Tucker will make her long-awaited Temple debut after sitting out last season. She has twice earned All-CAA honors in her career. Three newcomers enter the post in Netherlands U-20 star Jaleesa Molina, JUCO national champion Alexandra (Alie) Wilkinson, and McDonald's All-America nominee Sheyenne Swain-Price.
With six new schools entering the American Athletic Conference, 2023-24 Temple Owls are expecting to reach exciting new heights this season.
It will have been 245 days since Mar. 6 when Richardson's inaugural campaign came to a close in the American Athletic Conference tournament at the hands of Wichita State on March 6. The Owls concluded last season with just eight available players, with an additional two players sitting out the year. Of the ten players who ended last season on the roster, eight return. Since the 2022-23 season ended, Richardson and her staff have been hard at work retooling and reloading the roster with new talent. Six new players grace the roster this season to join the eight returners.
Last season, the Cherry & White backcourt scored 72% of the total points generated by the Owls. This year, the backcourt figures to be an area of strength once again. Five guards have made at least 30 starts in their careers. Aleah Nelson will once again run point for Temple after leading the team with 15.4 points and 4.4 assists per game last season. For the third straight season, the Baltimore native was named All-Conference, earning All-AAC honors. Nelson will be joined in the backcourt by Kendall Currence, a 2022 First Team All-CAA selection, after missing last season due to injury. Other notable returners on the perimeter include do-it-all all big guard Tiarra East (12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and elite three-point shooter Tarriyonna Gary (.370 3pt %). The Owls also added Vanderbilt graduate transfer Demi Washington, and highly sought-after point guard Tristen Taylor.
On the interior, Temple returns 33 starts between Ines Piper and Denise Solis. Piper impressed as a defensive force last season, grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game and a team-leading 34 blocks. Rayne Tucker will make her long-awaited Temple debut after sitting out last season. She has twice earned All-CAA honors in her career. Three newcomers enter the post in Netherlands U-20 star Jaleesa Molina, JUCO national champion Alexandra (Alie) Wilkinson, and McDonald's All-America nominee Sheyenne Swain-Price.
With six new schools entering the American Athletic Conference, 2023-24 Temple Owls are expecting to reach exciting new heights this season.
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