Temple University Athletics
Temple University
7-7,1-1AAC
North Texas
11-3,1-1AAC
Late Comeback Falls Short as Women’s Basketball Drops to North Texas
1.2.24 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (7-7, 1-1 AAC) was defeated by the North Texas Mean Green (11-3, 1-1 AAC), 74-63. The Owls were down by as many as 23 points in the third quarter, but rallied late, cutting the lead down to eight points with 2:30 remaining in the fourth.
Aleah Nelson and Tiarra East led the charge for Temple, each scoring 20 or more points. East set a new team season-high in field goals made with nine.
First Quarter: Temple 12, North Texas 16
> Both teams started off cold from the field, as the game was deadlocked at 0-0 through the first two and a half minutes of game action. Both teams started off a combined 0-9, before a basket by East got the scoring underway with 7:21 remaining in the first quarter.
> Both teams found a rhythm after the cold start, exchanging baskets midway through the quarter. North Texas built a 10-5 lead off an 8-0 run.
> Three straight free throws from Nelson cut into the early lead and helped Temple tie the game at 10.
> The Mean Green responded with a 6-2 run to close out the quarter.
> East and Nelson combined for all 12 of Temple's points, with six points each.
Second Quarter: Temple 31, North Texas 40
> Both teams started off the second quarter a combined 5-7 from the field, as North Texas maintained a two-point lead through the early stages of the period (20-18, NT).
> The Mean Green extended their lead to 25-18, before East brought the deficit back to 25-21 with an and-one in the paint for her 13th point of the game. UNT scored four more to take a 29-21 lead into the media timeout.
> Six consecutive points by Nelson helped trim the deficit (33-27, NT).
> North Texas connected on six of its last nine field goals to end the half up, 40-31.
> East and Nelson continued to carry the offensive load, combining for 25 points in the first half.
Third Quarter: Temple 41, North Texas 63
> The Mean Green started off the second half on a 7-0 run, building a 16-point lead early in the third quarter. East ended the run with a second-chance basket with 6:41 remaining in the quarter (47-33, NT).
> Temple shot 1-11 from the field to start the third quarter, as North Texas extended a 51-33 lead at the media timeout.
>The Owls were outscored 23-10 in the quarter, bearing a 22-point deficit heading into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter: Temple 63, North Texas 74
> Temple opened the final frame with points from Demi Washington.
> Play evened out as Temple found its jump shot again. The Owls went on a 9-0 run to cut into the lead with just over four minutes remaining (67-55, NT).
> The Owls rallied for a late comeback attempt, cutting the lead down to 10 points with just over two minutes remaining for the first time since early in the third quarter (69-59, NT).
> Temple cut the deficit to eight points with under two minutes remaining, but North Texas held on to win 74-63.
Statistically Speaking
> East's nine field goals set a new Temple season high for converted baskets in a game by a single player.
> Denise Solis tied her season-high rebound total with four.
> East has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
> Nelson has scored in double figures 79 times in her career, including 33 times in Cherry & White. She has scored in double figures in four out of her last five games.
> Nelson and East scoring 20 points each marked the first time that the Owls have had two 20-point scorers in a game since 1/7/23 against Cincinnati.
> The Owls are coming off their best month since January 2020, when Temple earned a 6-2 record.
> In continuing the season-long trend, Temple forced 23 North Texas turnovers to just 11 turnovers themselves. The Owls are top-15 in the nation in turnover differential.
Up Next
> Temple will open road play in the American Athletic Conference on Saturday January, 6 at Tulsa. The game will tip at 3:00 pm EST on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network App.
