Owls Fend Off Memphis Rally to Claim Victory

Tuesday, February 25

Memphis, TN

8:00 p.m.

Temple University

17-10,11-5AAC

Memphis

7-20,5-11AAC

Temple

Memphis

Photo by: Tim McCall

Owls Fend Off Memphis Rally to Claim Victory

2.25.25 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Temple women's basketball (17-10, 11-5 AAC) beat the Memphis Tigers (7-20, 5-11 AAC) 91-79 for a series sweep of the Tigers. Tiarra East and Kaylah Turner led all scorers with 21 points. Jaleesa Molina (12), Anissa Rivera (11), Tarriyonna Gary (10), and Tristen Taylor (10) also reached double digits in points. Amaya Oliver secured her 500th career rebound.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

Following a Memphis turnover, Tarriyonna Gary got the Owls on the board first with a three-pointer.
After a pair of missed buckets from Temple and Memphis, Jaleesa Molina was fouled on a shot attempt and knocked down two at the line to put the Owls up 7-5.
Heading into the first media timeout at the 4:22 mark, Temple held a 12-7 lead over Memphis following a made layup from Molina.
In the closing minutes of the first quarter, Temple connected on three straight possessions, including the last two baskets from Kaylah Turner. Temple was up 19-15.

Second Quarter

With buckets from Felicia Jacobs and Molina, the Owls held a 23-19 lead at the 6:57 mark.
Memphis made it a one-point game after a three-pointer from Elauna Eaton to cut the Owls' lead to 23-22.
Going into a media timeout, Anissa Rivera converted a basket on the low block to give the Owls a 29-23 advantage with 4:20 remaining.
Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Tristen Taylor (two threes), Rivera, and Gary extending the Owls' lead to 16 by the end of the half, 46-30.

Third Quarter

Memphis's Eaton and Temple's Tiarra East traded baskets to start the third, as Eaton helped cut the Owls' lead to 48-35.
At the halfway point in the third quarter, Memphis's Alasisa Smith was sent to the line, where she made both free throws.
After the media timeout, a 7-0 run from Memphis cut the lead to four, 56-52, forcing a Temple timeout at 2:56. The Tigers continued their 14-0 run, including a three by Boler that gave Memphis its first lead, 57-56, at the 1:51 mark.
A pair of free throws by East ended Temple's scoring drought, but Memphis came right back down the floor for another bucket. Temple hadn't made a field goal since the 5:49 mark, before a three from Turner with 11 seconds left.
Memphis made a layup at the buzzer, and the quarter ended with the score tied 63-63. The Owls were outscored 33-17 in the period.

Fourth Quarter

Three baskets – Molina (x2) and Turner – to open the quarter gave Temple a 69-63 lead before Memphis responded with four points of their own.
After a steal by East, she was fouled and converted a pair of free throws for a 73-70 Temple lead.
Turner continued her hot shooting, nailing a three to push the lead to six, 76-70.
East made a pair of buckets, extending Temple's 9-0 run and lifting the Owls to a 10-point lead, 80-70, midway through the period.
Temple's run went to 11-0 before Memphis converted on a foul shot, 82-71, at the 3:30 mark. Temple extended the lead to 12 points and closed the game with a 91-79 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX

Taylor reached double digits by halftime.
Gary and Molina were on their way with eight first-half points.
With six points in the opening minutes of the second half, East moved into double digits as well.
Temple shot 50% (18-36) from the field in the first half, including 55% (6-11) from three-point range.
Temple held first-half advantages in points in the paint (22-10), bench points (11-2), and points off turnovers (12-4), and held a lead from the first basket – 21 seconds into the game.
The Owls allowed 33 points in the third quarter, the most Temple has allowed in any quarter all season. The Tigers went 12-15 from the field and 5-6 behind the arc.
Memphis went 1-11 from the field in the fourth quarter.
Temple was a perfect 13-13 from the foul line.
Memphis shot 51.8% from the field, the first time this season that Temple has beaten a team allowing 50% shooting. The Owls had six players score in double figures, the most since ECU in 2024.

UP NEXT
The Owls will head home to take on Rice on Friday, February 28, in the last home game of the 2024-25 season. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.