Temple University Athletics
Temple University
9-8,3-2AAC
Memphis
5-11,1-4AAC
Comeback Falls Just Short as Women’s Basketball Drops to Memphis, 59-57
1.14.24 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (9-8, 3-2 AAC) fell to the Memphis Tigers (5-11, 1-4 AAC), 59-57. The Owls trailed by eight points with 49 seconds remaining, but managed to cut the lead to two with 7 seconds on the board. Tristen Taylor had a contested chance to win the game, but the hit off the rim. The loss breaks a two game winning streak for the Cherry & White.
Aleah Nelson starred for Temple, scoring a game-high 19 points. She now sits only five points from being the third player in Temple women's basketball history with 1,500 points.
First Quarter: Temple 9, Memphis 14
> Memphis got the ball rolling with consecutive baskets in the paint to take a 4-0 lead out of the gates. Temple responded with five straight points from Nelson that stretched into a 9-0 run that put the Owls ahead 9-4 at the 5:48 mark of the first quarter.
> The Tigers ended the last 4:12 on a 10-0 run, putting the visitors out in front 14-9 at the end of the first quarter.
> Nelson led all scorers in first quarter points with five.
Second Quarter: Temple 16, Memphis 23
> Ines Piper started off the quarter for the Owls, hitting a three-pointer that cut the Memphis lead to 14-12.
> With 7:08 left in the first half, Nelson hit her second three of the game to keep Temple within three points of Memphis (17-14, MEM).
> The Owls and Tigers endured a 3:52 scoreless drought during the second quarter.
> With 1:55 left in the half, Demi Washington cashed in a layup to end the Owls' 5:02 scoring drought (21-16 MEM).
> It was a low scoring quarter, with the sides only combing for 16 total points. Rayne Tucker grabbed a game-high six rebounds in the frame.
Third Quarter: Temple 36, Memphis 40
> After a 4-0 run by Memphis to start the third quarter, Piper got the Owls' second-half scoring started with a mid-range jump shot. (27-18, MEM).
> A three by Nelson at the 6:28 mark capped a 7-0 run that trimmed the Tigers' lead to 27-23.
> After Memphis extended its lead to 33-25, Kendall Currence and Nelson converted back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Owls within a possession (33-31, MEM).
> Memphis scored the next three points to put the lead back at five to kick off a back and forth affair. A three-pointer by Tarriyona Gary with 1:18 remaining pushed Temple within two points and ignited the crowd (38-36, MEM).
> Nelson led the way for the Cherry & White in the third quarter, scoring eight points off 3-4 shooting.
Fourth Quarter: Temple 57, Memphis 59
> The Owls wasted little time to get on the board in the fourth quarter. Piper made a second-chance layup on the opening possession to cut Memphis' lead to two points (40-38, MEM).
> Both teams exchanged a flurry of buckets, with Memphis holding a narrow 46-41 at the media timeout.
> The Tigers capitalized off a timely three-pointer by Ki'ari Cain at the 4:37 mark that extended Temple's deficit to six points (49-43, MEM).
> Memphis extended its lead to 55-46 with just under two minutes remaining behind a 9-3 run.
> Nelson converted her fifth three of the day with 44 seconds remaining to cut the Memphis lead to 55-49.
> Down 58-53, the Owls forced a turnover on the Memphis inbound and took over possession with 19 seconds remaining. A foul on the Temple inbound pushed the Owls within one possession after Rayne Tucker converted two free-throws (58-55, MEM).
> After a flurry of free-throws by both teams, the Owls cut the deficit to 59-57 with 7.4 seconds remaining.
> After Memphis missed back-to-back free throws, Temple's Tristen Taylor hailed a three pointer, which rimmed out at the buzzer (MEM, 59-57).
Game Notes
> It was Alumnae Day for the Owls, with over 30 alumnae from all eras of Temple basketball in attendance.
> Temple and Memphis have played each other every season since Temple joined the AAC in 2013. The Owls hold a 12-6 advantage over the Tigers, including 8-2 at home.
> Head Coach Diane Richardson was honored before the game for her 100th career NCAA victory as a head coach.
> Aleah Nelson has now scored 1,495 career points, only 5 away from 1500.
> Nelson has scored in double figures 82 times in her career, including 36 times in Cherry & White. She has scored in double figures in seven out of her last eight games.
Statistically Speaking
> Rayne Tucker grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
> Aleah Nelson tied a season-high five three-pointers made. She last drilled five threes against Delaware on Dec. 14.
> Temple held Memphis to just 1-13 (7.7%) from beyond the arc.
Up Next
> Temple has a week off before the Owls face conference leaders Charlotte at home next Sunday at 1 p.m. (ESPN+/The Varsity Network App). Tickets are available at Owlstix.com.
