Temple University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Completes Big 5 Circuit with La Salle
12.16.23 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (5-5) will play its final game of the Big 5 schedule this season as the Cherry & White head up Broad Street to face the La Salle Explorers (3-6) this Sunday at 1 p.m. The Owls are coming off two straight victories against regional rivals, taking down Penn and Delaware. The game will stream on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network App.
LAST TIME OUT: Delaware 65 @ Temple 72
> Temple won its second straight game on Thursday, defeating the Delaware Blue Hens, 72-65.
> The Owls scored the first basket of the game and never trailed. At several points throughout the contest, Delaware cut into the lead, but Temple had an answer at every turn.
> Aleah Nelson scored a game-high 22 points, a season-high for the First Team All-Big 5 guard. Temple as whole shot 8-14 from beyond the arc, it's best single-game shooting performance from three since 2015.
THE OWLS
> Nelson ranks second in the AAC in assists per game (5.0). The guard's 11.4 points per game lead the team. She has now passed for at least five assists in five straight games. Nelson ranks 12th in Division I among active players in assists, two behind Jenna Annecchiarico of College of Charleston.
> Tiarra East is second on the team in scoring with 11.1 ppg she has now scored in double figures in the last four games. The wing put up 15 points against Delaware.
> Piper was named the AAC and Big 5 Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, it is the second time this season the forward has been honored by the Big 5. She leads the team in both rebounds (6.5 rpg) and blocks (1.4 bpg).
> Rayne Tucker has impressed for the Cherry & White, averaging 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. She scored in double-figures in five of the last six games. The forward picked up her second double-double of the season against the Blue Hens.
> Temple is one of the elite offensive glass teams in the country this season. The Owls ranks 11th nationally and first in the American in offensive rebounds per game (16.9).
SCOUTING LA SALLE
> The Explorers put together back-to-back winning seasons in 2021-22 and 22-23, it is the first time they have accomplished this feat since 1996-97 and 97-98. Last season, La Salle concluded their campaign at 17-14.
> La Salle is 3-6 this season. They have lost the last four games, including the last three by 20 points or more.
> Nicole Melious is a player to watch for La Salle. She leads the team in scoring with 11.4 per contest.
> Mountain MacGillivray leads La Salle in his sixth season. A Temple graduate, MacGillivray has increased the Explorers' win percentage every season since taking the program over in 2018. He is 53-71 in time at La Salle.
SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and La Salle have met 50 times in history. The Owls are 28-22.
> TU has taken the last eight games and have won 21 out of the last 22 battles between the Philly rivals.
> Last season the two met on Dec. 5 at The Liacouras Center. For the Owls is the second game in three days. The Cherry & White rode a career-high 25 points from Tiarra East to a 70-56 victory.
UP NEXT
> Temple returns home to Liacouras Center on Thursday at 11a for Temple's annual school day game vs Northwestern. Tickets are available to purchase at Owlstix.com. The game will stream on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network App.
LAST TIME OUT: Delaware 65 @ Temple 72
> Temple won its second straight game on Thursday, defeating the Delaware Blue Hens, 72-65.
> The Owls scored the first basket of the game and never trailed. At several points throughout the contest, Delaware cut into the lead, but Temple had an answer at every turn.
> Aleah Nelson scored a game-high 22 points, a season-high for the First Team All-Big 5 guard. Temple as whole shot 8-14 from beyond the arc, it's best single-game shooting performance from three since 2015.
THE OWLS
> Nelson ranks second in the AAC in assists per game (5.0). The guard's 11.4 points per game lead the team. She has now passed for at least five assists in five straight games. Nelson ranks 12th in Division I among active players in assists, two behind Jenna Annecchiarico of College of Charleston.
> Tiarra East is second on the team in scoring with 11.1 ppg she has now scored in double figures in the last four games. The wing put up 15 points against Delaware.
> Piper was named the AAC and Big 5 Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, it is the second time this season the forward has been honored by the Big 5. She leads the team in both rebounds (6.5 rpg) and blocks (1.4 bpg).
> Rayne Tucker has impressed for the Cherry & White, averaging 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. She scored in double-figures in five of the last six games. The forward picked up her second double-double of the season against the Blue Hens.
> Temple is one of the elite offensive glass teams in the country this season. The Owls ranks 11th nationally and first in the American in offensive rebounds per game (16.9).
SCOUTING LA SALLE
> The Explorers put together back-to-back winning seasons in 2021-22 and 22-23, it is the first time they have accomplished this feat since 1996-97 and 97-98. Last season, La Salle concluded their campaign at 17-14.
> La Salle is 3-6 this season. They have lost the last four games, including the last three by 20 points or more.
> Nicole Melious is a player to watch for La Salle. She leads the team in scoring with 11.4 per contest.
> Mountain MacGillivray leads La Salle in his sixth season. A Temple graduate, MacGillivray has increased the Explorers' win percentage every season since taking the program over in 2018. He is 53-71 in time at La Salle.
SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and La Salle have met 50 times in history. The Owls are 28-22.
> TU has taken the last eight games and have won 21 out of the last 22 battles between the Philly rivals.
> Last season the two met on Dec. 5 at The Liacouras Center. For the Owls is the second game in three days. The Cherry & White rode a career-high 25 points from Tiarra East to a 70-56 victory.
UP NEXT
> Temple returns home to Liacouras Center on Thursday at 11a for Temple's annual school day game vs Northwestern. Tickets are available to purchase at Owlstix.com. The game will stream on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network App.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
