Temple University Athletics
Temple University
10-8,4-2AAC
Charlotte
12-7,5-2AAC
Aleah Nelson Nets 1500th Point as Women’s Basketball Wins Thriller Over Charlotte, 73-68
1.21.24 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (10-8, 4-2 AAC) defeated American Athletic Conference frontrunner Charlotte 49ers (12-7, 5-2 AAC), 73-68. After a competitive early portion of the game, the Cherry & White scored the final six points of the first half and kept the momentum going into the third quarter, building a lead of as many as 15 points. The Owls stuffed a late comeback attempt to secure the victory.
Temple 5th year guard Aleah Nelson scored her 1500th career point, becoming only the 10th Owl all-time to reach the marker. She is the second Temple player to score 1500 points and pass for 500 assists, with the only other being current professional Feyonda Fitzgerald.
First Quarter: Temple 18, Charlotte 13
> Temple won the opening tip and immediately drilled a three pointer from Nelson to open the contest. Charlotte scored the next eight points to build a solid advantage (8-3, CHA).
> A three-point basket by Tiarra East capped a Temple run that tied the game at 8 with 5:02 remaining.
> After trading baskets, Temple strung together five straight points on an Ines Piper three and a pair of free throws to build a 14-10 advantage.
> The Owls scored the last four points of the quarter to take an 18-13 advantage into the break.
> Jaleesa Molina scored four points and grabbed three boards in the first frame.
Second Quarter: Temple 33, Charlotte 27
> The scoring came fast & furious to open the second quarter, with Temple maintaining its point advantage largely from the charity stripe (23-19, TU)
> The 49ers scored six straight points to retake the lead, 25-23 with 5:28 remaining. Temple tied things up two minutes later at 25 going into the media timeout.
> The teams traded baskets to keep things knotted, before Tristen Taylor knocked down three free throws (30-27, TEM).
> Nelson bagged her 1500th career point to end the half with a triple. The Owls ended the half on a 6-0 run.
> Temple defense stood strong in the quarter, not allowing a single field goal for the final 6:40 of the half.
Third Quarter: Temple 53, Charlotte 40
> After each team started the half with a free throw, Rayne Tucker scored back-to-back points to put the Temple lead into double-digits for the first time (38-28, TU).
> The Owls maintained the lead with four points from Ines Piper and took a 42-32 advantage into the third quarter media timeout.
> Temple scored six of the first eight points coming out of the timeout to gain a 14 point lead, 48-34.
> Piper impressed with four points and five rebounds in the quarter. Temple as a team forced eight turnovers in the period.
Fourth Quarter: Temple 73, Charlotte 68
> Charlotte started off the quarter with a corner three, trimming the lead to 10. Temple responded on the ensuing possession with a trio of free-throws by East. (56-43, TU).
> Charlotte scored nine of the next 11 points to cut the lead to 58-52.
> Taylor ended the Charlotte run, converting a three-pointer in front of Temple's bench to stretch the lead back to 61-52 with 5:29 remaining in regulation.
> The 49ers answered with four unanswered points to cut the Owls' advantage to 61-56 with just over four minutes remaining.
> Nelson ignited the crowd with a timely corner three, pushing Temple's lead back to 64-56 with 3:46 left in the game. After two Charlotte free-throws, Nelson hit another three from the same spot to keep Temple ahead by a sizable margin (67-58, TU).
> The 49ers rallied seven unanswered points late in the quarter, cutting the Owls' lead to 71-68 with 43.9 seconds remaining.
> A clutch basket in the paint by Taylor with 18.6 seconds remaining put Temple up by two possessions (73-68, TU). The Owls held the 49ers scoreless for the remainder of the game.
Game Notes
> Temple and Charlotte shared a home in the Atlantic-10 from 2005-2013. The Owls hold an 9-3 record all-time over the 49ers. Temple has never lost to Charlotte at home, with a 6-0 record.
> Nelson has scored in double figures 83 times in her career, including 37 times in Cherry & White. She has scored in double figures in seven straight games.
> This was Temple's annual autism awareness game. Special needs children from around the Delaware Valley region were in attendance, with features including two sensory rooms, and autism facts throughout the contest.
Statistically Speaking
> Ines Piper tied her season-high in assists with three.
> Piper reached double figures for the 8th time this season and the second time in the last three.
> East has now scored in double-figures in nine of the last ten games she has played in.
> Four players scored in double digits (East, Nelson, Piper, and Taylor).
> Temple doubled Charlotte up in steals, 12-6.
Up Next
> Temple will head to Dallas to face SMU for its first of two straight road games on Wednesday. The game will tip at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network App.
