Women’s Basketball Defeats UAB in Crucial Conference Matchup Behind Season-High from Aleah Nelson

Wednesday, February 14

Birmingham, Ala.

7:00 PM EST

Temple University

14-10,8-4AAC

UAB

17-8,8-5AAC

Temple

UAB

Photo by: Tim McCall

Women’s Basketball Defeats UAB in Crucial Conference Matchup Behind Season-High from Aleah Nelson

2.14.24 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book Post Game Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple Women's Basketball team (14-10, 8-4 AAC) defeated the UAB Blazers (17-8, 8-5 AAC), 86-72, on the road in the first ever matchup between the two schools.

An impressive first half, in which the Owls shot 60.7% from the field, gave the Owls an early advantage that would carry on to a conference road victory. Aleah Nelson impressed for the Cherry & White, finishing with a season-high 24 points, which ties the most points scored by an Owl in a game this season. Temple's offense played efficiently, as four Owls finished in double figures.

First Quarter: UAB 16, Temple 15

> Both teams scored on their opening offensive possessions, as Tiarra East netted Temple's first basket of the game on a mid range jumper to tie up the game at 2-2.
> After UAB built an early 6-2 lead, Temple rattled off an 8-0 run to capture a four-point first-quarter lead with 4:31 remaining at the first media timeout (10-6, TU).
> The first quarter was a game of runs, as UAB bounced back with a 7-0 run out of the media timeout to retake a 13-10 advantage. East then nailed a three-pointer to tie the game.
> UAB held a first-quarter lead in part to a 7-0 advantage on points off turnovers and six points off the bench (two three-pointers by Ashton Elley).

Second Quarter: Temple 47, UAB 23

>A 14-4 run to start the quarter by Temple gave the Owls back the lead (29-20 TEM). That run included back-to-back buckets and four free throws by Aleah Nelson, who reached double-figures by the 6:13 mark.
> An 11-1 run extended the Temple lead to 40-21 at the 3:13 mark.
> A last-second tip-in by Ines Piper capped an impressive second frame, with the Owls leading 47-23. Overall, Temple outscored UAB 32-7 in the second quarter.
> Nelson was scorching in the first half, scoring 16 points off 5-6 shooting from the field, including a 2-3 clip from three-point range, and 4-4 from the foul line.
> The Owls limited the Blazers to 9-29 (31%) from the field in the first half. At the same time, Temple shot 61% (17-28) from the field.
> In complete contrast to the first quarter, Temple held a 8-0 advantage on points off turnovers and had a 7-0 advantage from its bench.

Third Quarter: Temple 68, UAB 49

> The teams traded buckets through the first half of the period, with Temple holding onto a 23-point lead at the 5:09 mark. (56-33, TEM).
> The Blazers went on an 8-0 run late in the quarter to cut the Temple lead to 14 (58-44, TEM) with 2:47 remaining.
> Kendall Currence provided a spark off the bench, scoring jump shots on back-to-back possessions that put the Owls back up 62-45 with 2:04 remaining in the quarter.

Fourth Quarter: Temple 86, UAB 72

> Tucker scored three points early in the period to give Temple its fourth double-digit scorer in the game en route to her fifth double-double of the season.
> A 10-4 run by UAB brought them within 14 at the 4:59 mark and a media timeout (75-61, TEM).
> The Blazers cut the lead to 11 with 3:40 remaining, capping a 9-8 run. Temple responded with a layup by East and jumper by Ines Piper to re-establish a 15-point lead (79-64).
> A layup by Tucker, three-pointer from Nelson, and a pair of free-throws from Tristen Taylor helped the Owls close out a 14-point victory.

Game Notes

> Temple's matchup against UAB marked Rayne Tucker's 100th career game played.
> With the Owls notching their 14th win of the season, the 2023-24 campaign is now already the winningest season for Temple since 2019-20.
> The Cherry & White's 86-point scoreline today marks the second-highest offensive output of the season. Temple scored 109 points in a win over Delaware State in the season opener.
> Tarriyonna Gary recorded her 100th career steal during the win over the Blazers.
> Temple's win over UAB marks just the third time this season that the Blazers have been defeated at home.

Statistically Speaking

>Today's game marks the 17th time that Tiarra East has scored in double figures this season.
> Rayne Tucker finished the day with 15 rebounds, a new season high. She was just three boards shy of her career high of 18.
>Today marked Rayne Tucker's fifth double-double of the season and the 10th of her career. (14 points, 15 rebounds)
> Temple held a 40-32 advantage in team rebounding. The Owls spread the love, totaling 14 assists compared to nine for the Blazers.

Up Next
The Owls are set to return to North Philadelphia for a conference matchup against the Tulane Green Wave on Feb. 19. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network App.