Temple University Athletics
Temple University
20-12,13-5AAC
Rice
18-14,9-9AAC
Women’s Basketball Defeated by Rice in AAC Semifinals
3.12.24 | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Temple Women's Basketball team (20-12, 13-5 AAC) lost to the Rice Owls (18-14 9-9), 57-60, in the semifinal round of the American Athletic Conference tournament on March 12.
Demi Washington led an admirable comeback effort, as the Owls trimmed a 13-point deficit into a single possession game in the final stages of regulation. After advancing to the semifinal round for the first time since the 2016-17 season, the loss ended Temple's pursuit of an AAC tournament championship title.
First Quarter: Rice 17, Temple 15
> Rayne Tucker opened the game's scoring with a coast-to-coast layup.
> Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, with the teams tied at 4-4 at the six-minute mark.
> Until the 1:33 mark, neither team held more than a two point lead as they literally traded baskets throughout the first quarter. At that time, two free throws by Rice gave them a three-point advantage (Rice, 15-12).
> A 9-0 run for Rice put Temple behind 17-12, before a three-pointer by Tristen Taylor cut the deficit to two to end the period.
Second Quarter: Temple 29, Rice 33
> After Rice built a 19-15 lead, Aleah Nelson completed an and-one to draw the Owls back within one (19-18, Rice) with 9:01 left in the half.
> Back-to-back baskets by Taylor and Tiarra East tightened the score to 25-24, Rice, at a media timeout with 4:22 on the clock.
> Demi Washington grabbed a defensive rebound and drove the length of the court but was fouled. She made one to tie the score at 25-25. At this point in the game, both teams maintained the same exact shooting percentage from the field, 11-24 (46%).
> Rice built a 33-27 lead, before two free-throws by Nelson cut the deficit to four heading into halftime (33-29, Rice).
> Tiarra East led the Owls with eight points in the first half, while Taylor added seven.
Third Quarter: Rice 48, Temple 43
> Rice opened the second half on a 6-0 run, as Temple faced a 39-31 deficit at a timeout with 6:35 remaining. The run extended to 11-0, as Temple fell behind 44-31 before East ended the scoreless drought with a basket. (44-33, Rice).
> The Cherry & White's offense heated up, as Demi Washington charged an 8-2 run that cut Rice's lead to 46-41. Washington scored six of the eight points during the run.
Fourth Quarter: Temple 57, Rice 60
> Washington continued with the hot hand opening up the fourth quarter scoring with a basket. She added two free-throws to make it a one-point game (Rice, 48-47).
> It wasn't until 5:22 remaining that Rice scored its first points. Aleah Nelson came right back with a Temple bucket (50-49, Rice).
> At a media timeout with 4:03 on the clock, Temple trailed by one, 52-51.
> At 3:29, Tarriyonna Gary nailed two free-throws to give Temple its first lead since the first quarter, 53-52.
> A 5-0 run by Rice put them up 57-53 before Washington scored again to cut the Rice lead to two.
> Twice down the stretch Washington scored in the paint to cut Rice's lead to two, but the Owls were unable to retake the lead and fell 60-57.
Game Notes
> Temple's 20 wins this year are the most in a regular season since 2016-17. After an 11-win season a year ago, the Owls have improved by nine wins, tying the best turnaround in team history, which was set in 2000-2001 when the Owls won 19 games after winning just 10 in 1999-2000.
> Washington was the only Temple player to score more than one field goal in either the third or fourth quarter shooting 7-7 in the second half. She scored 16 of her 19 points in the final two quarters.
> Rice and East Carolina will play for the AAC Championship.
Statistically Speaking
> East's 10 points marked her 11th double-digit scoring effort in the team's last 12 outings. Overall, East has 23 double-digit games this season.
> Ines Piper recorded her 500th career rebound.
> Demi Washington's 19 points is her third-highest scoring effort of the season, and just three points shy of tying a career high.
> East recorded a team-high eight rebounds. She has grabbed eight or more boards in four out of her last five games.
Up Next
Temple concluded its hopes of an AAC Tournament Championship with its loss to Rice. Up next, the Owls will await a possible at-large bid into postseason play, which begins with the NCAA Women's Basketball Selection Show on March 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
