Temple University Athletics
Friday, December 1
Tempe, Arizona
6:00 PM EST
Temple University
vs
Xavier
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Women's Basketball to Compete at Briann January Classic
11.29.23 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (2-4) heads to Tempe, Arizona to play in the Briann January Classic hosted by Arizona State University. Temple will face former A-10 rival Xavier (0-6) on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and Pacific University (4-2) on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. Both games will stream on the Pac-12 Network. This is Temple's furthest trip west since playing at UCLA on Nov. 28, 2010.
LAST TIME OUT: Saint Joseph's 67 @ Temple 65 OT
> After being down as many as 17 points, Temple mounted a strong comeback effort to take its first lead of the game with 8:37 remaining in the fourth quarter.
> There were five lead changes and five ties in the final frame. Freshman guard Tristen Taylor took over the game in the fourth, scoring the last nine points for the Owls. Taylor and backcourt mate Aleah Nelson combined for all 15 points for Temple in the fourth.
> Taylor scored 21 points, the rookie from Texas went 8-14 (57.1%) from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Nelson also impressed, scoring 16 points for the second straight game to go with eight assists and six rebounds, while Rayne Tucker recorded her seventh career double-double, contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds.
THE OWLS
> As she did most of last season, Nelson leads the Cherry & White in both points (10.4 ppg) and assists (4.3 apg/2nd AAC).
> Ines Piper and Tucker are tied for the team lead in rebounds (6.2 rpg) and both are ranked top ten in the conference in blocks, with Piper's nine leading the Owls and good for fifth in the conference.
> Temple has been exceptionally balanced scoring wise, with seven different leading scorers in six games, the most in the American. Tarriyonna Gary and Tucker tied for the team lead of 12 against Georgetown. Eight different players average over six points per game.
> Taylor has been one of the elite freshmen in the American this season, her 21 points are the second most of any freshman in the conference this year in a game. The guard ranks fourth in the conference in 3pt shooting percentage (.467), and eighth in steals per game (2.0).
> The Owls continue to rank as one of the strongest ball control teams in the AAC. TU ranks second in turnover margin, second in offensive rebounds per game, and third in steals per game and in assist/turnover ratio.
SCOUTING XAVIER
> Xavier has not had a winning record since the 2015-16 season and has not finished higher than seventh in the BIG EAST since 2010-11.
> So far this season, Xavier is 0-6. The Musketeers have faced Youngstown State, James Madison, Old Dominion, Bowling Green, Kent State, and Miami (Ohio).
> Xavier returns three of its top five scorers from a year ago in Mackayla Scarlett (10.9 ppg), Taylor Smith (7.5 ppg) and Nila Blackford (6.3 ppg). Blackford also led the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg). Scarlet again leads Xavier in scoring with 15.7 ppg, while Blackford averages a double-double (11.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg).
> Chambers leads the Musketeers in her first season after spending the last ten years at Iona. During her time at Iona, Chambers led the Gaels to two NCAA tournaments and two MAAC regular season championships. She is 141-153 in her head coaching career. Both Chambers and Temple head coach Diane Richardson hail from the basketball rich DMV region.
SERIES HISTORY VS XAVIER
> Temple and Xavier shared a home in the Atlantic-10 conference from 1995-2013. In 2013, the Owls moved to the American Athletic Conference and Xavier moved to the BIG EAST. The Musketeers hold a 14-12 advantage all time.
> The two sides last met on 11-14-19, with Temple taking the game, 78-65, in The Liacouras Center. Temple all-time leading scorer Mia Davis scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, one of 46 double-doubles in her career.
> Temple Director of Player Personnel Shenita Landry played Xavier five times in her career from 2005-2009, earning a record of 3-2 in those games. In 2007, when the two met in the A-10 tournament, Landry set a career-high with a staggering 17 rebounds.
SCOUTING PACIFIC
> Pacific improved greatly from 2021-22 to 22-23 jumping from 3 to 15 wins. The Tigers are expected to take another step this season, picked third in the West Coast Conference preseason poll.
> The squad is 4-2 this season, picking up solid wins against Yale and Butler.
> Pacific is balanced scoring-wise, with five players averaging over double-figures. Guard Liz Smith is a player to keep an eye on. The guard was named First-Team All-WCC last season and was selected to the Preseason All-WCC team.
> Bradley Davis is the bench boss for the Tigers. Davis has been on staff at Pacific for 18 years, with nine of them as head coach. He is 110-135 during his tenure.
SERIES HISTORY VS PACIFIC
> This is the first ever meeting between Temple and Pacific.
> The Owls are 2-4 against WCC teams all-time.
UP NEXT
> The Owls will have eight days off following the classic before returning to The Liacouras Center to host Big 5 rivals Penn on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. (ESPN+/Varsity Network App). Tickets are available to purchase at Owlstix.com.
LAST TIME OUT: Saint Joseph's 67 @ Temple 65 OT
> After being down as many as 17 points, Temple mounted a strong comeback effort to take its first lead of the game with 8:37 remaining in the fourth quarter.
> There were five lead changes and five ties in the final frame. Freshman guard Tristen Taylor took over the game in the fourth, scoring the last nine points for the Owls. Taylor and backcourt mate Aleah Nelson combined for all 15 points for Temple in the fourth.
> Taylor scored 21 points, the rookie from Texas went 8-14 (57.1%) from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Nelson also impressed, scoring 16 points for the second straight game to go with eight assists and six rebounds, while Rayne Tucker recorded her seventh career double-double, contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds.
THE OWLS
> As she did most of last season, Nelson leads the Cherry & White in both points (10.4 ppg) and assists (4.3 apg/2nd AAC).
> Ines Piper and Tucker are tied for the team lead in rebounds (6.2 rpg) and both are ranked top ten in the conference in blocks, with Piper's nine leading the Owls and good for fifth in the conference.
> Temple has been exceptionally balanced scoring wise, with seven different leading scorers in six games, the most in the American. Tarriyonna Gary and Tucker tied for the team lead of 12 against Georgetown. Eight different players average over six points per game.
> Taylor has been one of the elite freshmen in the American this season, her 21 points are the second most of any freshman in the conference this year in a game. The guard ranks fourth in the conference in 3pt shooting percentage (.467), and eighth in steals per game (2.0).
> The Owls continue to rank as one of the strongest ball control teams in the AAC. TU ranks second in turnover margin, second in offensive rebounds per game, and third in steals per game and in assist/turnover ratio.
SCOUTING XAVIER
> Xavier has not had a winning record since the 2015-16 season and has not finished higher than seventh in the BIG EAST since 2010-11.
> So far this season, Xavier is 0-6. The Musketeers have faced Youngstown State, James Madison, Old Dominion, Bowling Green, Kent State, and Miami (Ohio).
> Xavier returns three of its top five scorers from a year ago in Mackayla Scarlett (10.9 ppg), Taylor Smith (7.5 ppg) and Nila Blackford (6.3 ppg). Blackford also led the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg). Scarlet again leads Xavier in scoring with 15.7 ppg, while Blackford averages a double-double (11.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg).
> Chambers leads the Musketeers in her first season after spending the last ten years at Iona. During her time at Iona, Chambers led the Gaels to two NCAA tournaments and two MAAC regular season championships. She is 141-153 in her head coaching career. Both Chambers and Temple head coach Diane Richardson hail from the basketball rich DMV region.
SERIES HISTORY VS XAVIER
> Temple and Xavier shared a home in the Atlantic-10 conference from 1995-2013. In 2013, the Owls moved to the American Athletic Conference and Xavier moved to the BIG EAST. The Musketeers hold a 14-12 advantage all time.
> The two sides last met on 11-14-19, with Temple taking the game, 78-65, in The Liacouras Center. Temple all-time leading scorer Mia Davis scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, one of 46 double-doubles in her career.
> Temple Director of Player Personnel Shenita Landry played Xavier five times in her career from 2005-2009, earning a record of 3-2 in those games. In 2007, when the two met in the A-10 tournament, Landry set a career-high with a staggering 17 rebounds.
SCOUTING PACIFIC
> Pacific improved greatly from 2021-22 to 22-23 jumping from 3 to 15 wins. The Tigers are expected to take another step this season, picked third in the West Coast Conference preseason poll.
> The squad is 4-2 this season, picking up solid wins against Yale and Butler.
> Pacific is balanced scoring-wise, with five players averaging over double-figures. Guard Liz Smith is a player to keep an eye on. The guard was named First-Team All-WCC last season and was selected to the Preseason All-WCC team.
> Bradley Davis is the bench boss for the Tigers. Davis has been on staff at Pacific for 18 years, with nine of them as head coach. He is 110-135 during his tenure.
SERIES HISTORY VS PACIFIC
> This is the first ever meeting between Temple and Pacific.
> The Owls are 2-4 against WCC teams all-time.
UP NEXT
> The Owls will have eight days off following the classic before returning to The Liacouras Center to host Big 5 rivals Penn on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. (ESPN+/Varsity Network App). Tickets are available to purchase at Owlstix.com.
Players Mentioned
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