Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Wichita State
Comeback Effort Falls Short as Women’s Basketball is Downed by Wichita State in AAC Tournament
3.6.23 | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH, Texas – Temple (11-18, 6-10 AAC) was downed by No. 8 seed Wichita State (17-13, 6-10 AAC) 71-61 Monday afternoon in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. After trailing by as many as 15 in the third quarter, the Cherry & White roared back to tie the contest early in the fourth quarter.
Aleah Nelson led all scorers with 22 points. DJ McCarty led Wichita State with 18 points, hitting 8-of-13 from the field.
First Quarter: Temple 8, Wichita State 17
> The Shockers got out to an early 8-2 lead at the first media timeout.
> Wichita State built a lead of as many as 11 points in the first (13-2) before Tarriyonna Gary knocked down a triple from deep to cut into the lead.
> At the end of the first frame, Temple trailed, 17-8.
> Tiarra East impressed with three blocks in the first quarter, setting a new career high. Her previous career-high for a game was two.
Second Quarter: Temple 25, Wichita State 32
> East opened the second quarter with a layup to kick off an eventful second quarter. The teams combined for 29 points in the first five minutes of the frame as the two sides traded baskets.
> Nelson hit two threes in a 70 second span to cut the Shocker lead to five points (25-20).
> Wichita State built an eight point lead, but Caranda Perea countered with another three pointer (30-25).
> Nelson was tied for the game-high in points through the first half with nine.
Third Quarter: Temple 49, Wichita State 52
> Wichita State opened the second half with an 8-0 run (40-25) before Gary opened Temple's scoring in the second half with a three pointer.
> Temple cut the deficit to 10 points thanks to an and-1 from East to begin a comeback effort (45-35). Moments later, Nelson knocked down a pair of free throws to put the deficit to nine.
> The Owls ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, with three points from Nelson and five from Gary, including a buzzer beating three pointer, to bring the deficit down to three (52-49).
> Gary led all players in the quarter with eight. East and Nelson added seven each, with Nelson also passing for three assists.
Fourth Quarter: Temple 61, Wichita State 71
> Nelson fired the opening shot of the quarter with game tying three (52-52).
> Wichita State scored 11 of the next 13 points to take a 63-54 lead.
> Nelson came out of the media timeout with a three to trim the deficit back down to six (63-57), but the Shockers extended the lead back to 10 just minutes later.
> Temple could not close the gap and Wichita State sealed the 71-61 win to advance to the quarterfinals.
Game Notes
> East set a career-high in blocks with three.
> Nelson's 22 points are the most she has scored since Jan. 28 against UCF.
> Waleed's six rebounds tie her career-high.
> Temple won the rebounding battle, 38-35.
