Temple University Athletics
Women's Basketball to Host South Florida in Play4Kay Game
2.9.24 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Coming off a nail-biting loss at Charlotte in double overtime , the Temple women's basketball team (12-10, 6-4 AAC) will return to The Liacouras Center on Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m. to host South Florida (14-10, 6-5 AAC). This will be the only meeting of the two teams this season. Both teams are within one game of first place in the conference. The game will stream on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network App. Tickets are available at Owlstix.com.
LAST TIME OUT: Charlotte 88, Temple 81 2OT > Temple lost a heartbreaker at Charlotte. The Owls hald a 14-point lead entering the fourth quarter and then lost in double-overtime, 88-81.
> The first three periods went Temple's way, and the last there were quite the opposite.
> As she has been accostume to doing lately, Tiarra East nailed a bucket with 0:04 left in regulation but was called for an offensive foul. Charlotte made a similar score at the end of the first overtime but was overturned after the officials checked the clock.
> All nine Temple players who played at least one minute, made at least one field goal and one rebound.
THE OWLS
> Temple currently ranks 5th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (17.0) and 14th in turnover margin (+5.5). The Owls also rank second in the AAC to USF in turnovers per game (14.8).
> Tiarra East (11.3 ppg) and Aleah Nelson (12.0 pgg) are scoring over 10 points per game. Seven players are averaging over 6.9 points per game.
> Demi Washington has come strong as of late. The graduate transfer wing is putting up 13.1 points per game over the last seven contests.
> Nelson has continued to stake her claim as one of the best passers in the AAC, ranking first in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (+2.02) and fourth in assists per game (4.4). 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 Tucker and Ines Piper are both top 14 in the conference in blocks.
SCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA > South Florida has a wtring of 12 straight 19-win seasons entering this year.
> This season, South Florida is 14-10 including a 6-5 record in the American. The team had won three straight before dropping a game on Wednesday night vs. Rice.
> South Florida is led by freshman guard Vittoria Blasigh. Blasigh leads all NCAA Freshman in total 3-pointers made. Redshirt junior forward Romi Levy (13.0 ppg) is the second Bull averaging double-digit points. Senior forward Evelien Lutje Schipholt leads on the glass with 7.5 rebounds per contest. Redshirt senior guard Aerial Wilson dishes out a team-best 4.3 assists per contest.
> Jose Fernandez is the winningest coach in USF history (457 wins), and a two-time AAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2021). He has led the Bulls to nine NCAA Tournament berths, including eight of the past 11 seasons.
SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and South Florida have played each other every season since Temple joined the AAC in 2013. Temple has a 3-17 record against USF.
> Last season the Cherry & White played the Bulls in Tampa. It was Coach Richardson's first road game in the AAC. USF won 77-55.
> The Cherry & White last claimed victory in January, 2020, winning 69-66.
UP NEXT > Temple hits the road again as they head to Birmingham to take on UAB. The Wednesnday matchup will tip at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network App.
