Women’s Basketball Falls at Houston in Nailbiter, 65-60

Saturday, February 4

Houston, Texas

2:00 P.M.

Temple University

Houston

Photo by: Tim McCall

Women’s Basketball Falls at Houston in Nailbiter, 65-60

2.4.23 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HOUSTON - The Temple Women's Basketball team. (10-12, 5-5 AAC) dropped its first game in two weeks as the Owls fell the Houston Cougars (9-13, 6-3 AAC), 65-60 Saturday at the Fertitta Center. Temple had a chance to tie with six seconds remaining, but the Owls turned the ball over on their final possession.

Caranda Perea headlined for the Cherry & White, recording 10 points and 13 rebounds for her first career double-double. Laila Blair led all scorers with 25 points for the Cougars.

First Quarter: Temple 17, Houston 11
> The contest started off as a defensive battle. The teams combined for 3-16 from the floor in the first few minutes. At one point, the Owls held Houston to 0-9 shooting over a five-minute scoreless stretch. The Cherry & White capitalized on its strong defense to build a 10-4 lead.
> Thanks in large part to a huge period from Perea, Temple controlled the first frame, jumping out to a lead of as many as nine points (15-6, TU). Houston scored five points to cut the lead down to four, before two late free throws from Ines Piper extended the lead back to six.
> Perea led all players in both points (8) and rebounds (5) in the first.

Second Quarter: Temple 29, Houston 26
> The Owls continued to crush Houston with defense as the second quarter began. The Cougars scored only two points in the first five minutes of the period. Temple started the quarter on a 6-0 run (27-13, TU).
> Houston found its stride in the last five minutes, the squad ended the half on a 13-2 run (29-26, TU).
> Perea and Ines Piper tied for the team-high in the half with three rebounds each. Five different Owls scored in the quarter. Perea tied her career-high in rebounds (8) in the first half alone.

Third Quarter: Temple 40, Houston 45
> Temple's defense continued to shine, allowing six points in the first four minutes and change of the third quarter. Houston took its first lead since it was 2-0 with 5:20 remaining in the period (34-33, HOU).
> Temple tied things back up at 35, but UH got back in front at 37-35. The score stayed with the two point Cougar advantage for over two minutes of game time.
> Houston ended the quarter on a 9-5 stretch to extend the lead going into the fourth.
> Tiarra East led the team with five points in the quarter.

Fourth Quarter: Temple 60, Houston 65
> The teams traded baskets as the quarter began. Back-to-back layups from Brittany Garner and East trimmed the lead down to two (51-49, TU).
> An Aleah Nelson three pointer brought things within one point, but Houston countered with a four-point play on the next possession, 57-52, with four minutes left.
> Nelson wasn't done yet, earning an and-1 on a layup to bring Temple within four (59-55, HOU).
> Free throws from Garner and East cut the lead down to one (61-60). Houston knocked two down on the other end to give the Cougars a three-point advantage with seven seconds left. The Owls turned the ball over on their final possession.

Game Notes
> Perea had the best game of her career. She put up 10 points and shattered her career-high with 13 rebounds, the most any Temple player has grabbed this season.
> 11 of East's 16 points came in the second half.

Up Next
> Temple will play its second straight road game, heading down to face East Carolina on Wednesday (6 p.m./ESPN+/Varsity Network App).