Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Tulsa
Temple Women's Basketball Hosts Tulsa on Wednesday in a Matchup of Two of the AAC's Best Teams
2.27.24 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (17-10, 11-4 AAC) will host Tulsa (20-8, 10-5 AAC) on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. at the Liacouras Center. This will be the second meeting of the two teams this season; Temple traveled to Tulsa to play the Golden Hurricane last month and returned with a 58-48 victory. The game will stream on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network App. Tickets are available at Owlstix.com.
LAST TIME OUT: Temple 75, Rice 66
> Scorching three-point shooting from Temple was the highlight, led by 5-5 shooting from long range by Tarriyonna Gary and 4-4 shooting from three-point range by Tristen Taylor. She led the Owls with 20 points on the day. Five Temple players scored in double figures today, including double-doubles by Tiarra East and Rayne Tucker.
> With Aleah Nelson's 10 points tonight, she has now scored in double figures in six of her last seven games. Likewise, East's 12 points marked her sixth double-digit scoring effort in the team's last seven outings. Overall, Nelson has 19 double-digit games and East has 18.
> East grabbed 10 rebounds today, a mark that was just one board shy of tying a career high. Her performance today marked East's fifth career double-double, two of which occurred this season.
THE OWLS
> Temple's victory over Rice marked the team's fifth consecutive win, which is the Owls' longest winning streak since December of the 2019-20 season. It is also the longest win streak the Owls have had in conference since 2016-17.
> The Owls stand in sole possession of first place in the AAC after today's victory. The last time Temple led its conference standings this late in the season was during the 2011-12 season, when the Cherry & White led the Atlantic 10.
> Temple reached the 17-win plateau for the first time since 2015-16 when they finished the season with 23 victories.
> Temple currently ranks 6th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (16.4) and 21st in turnover margin (+4.85). The Owls also rank first in the AAC in turnover margin.
> Tiarra East (12.2 ppg) and Aleah Nelson (12.3 pgg) are scoring over 10 points per game. Seven players, including all five starters, are averaging over 6.6 points per game.
> Nelson has continued to stake her claim as one of the best passers in the AAC, ranking second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (+1.93) and fourth in assists per game (4.0). Only seven players in the nation have more points and more assists than Nelson.
> On the boards, Rayne Tucker ranks 7th the AAC in rebounds per game with 8.1.
SCOUTING TULSA > Tulsa has been experiencing a resurgence in the last two years, with back-to-back 17 win seasons after six straight losing campaigns. Last year, The Golden Hurricane surged to a 15-3 start before dropping 10 of its last 12.
> This season Tulsa is once again off to a tremendous start, standing at a 20-8 record and 10-5 in conference.
> Temira Poindexter and Delanie Crawford are the drivers for Tulsa. With Poindexter averaging 20.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Crawford is scoring 19.3 and pulling down 5.9 rebounds per game.
> Angie Nelp leads Tulsa in her third season. She previously spent several seasons on the coaching staff at Arizona State. Nelp has engineered a staggering turnaround in her three seasons in Tulsa. She has a 54-31 record, Tulsa's best run of seasons in nearly 20 years.
SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and Tulsa have met every season since the Owls joined the American in 2013.
> TU is 11-4 against the Golden Hurricane. Temple has won four of the last five meetings.
> Last time the two met, Temple traveled to Tulsa for a 10-point win, 58-48. The Owls as a team set a new season-high in rebounds with 51. Aleah Nelson led the Cherry & White in points with 17, her fourth straight game in double-figures. Freshman guard Tristen Taylor impressed with 15 points and tied her career-high with seven rebounds.
UP NEXT Temple travels to East Carolina for a Sunday matinee (2:00pm). The game will be on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network App.
