Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Charlotte
Owls Dominate Charlotte on Their Way to the Semifinals
3.10.25 | Women's Basketball
FORT WORTH, TX – In the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament, Temple women's basketball (20-10, 14-5 AAC) defeated Charlotte (11-21, 4-15 AAC), 65-34, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Amaya Oliver (12), Tarriyonna Gary (11), and Jaleesa Molina (10) all reached double figures, while Tiarra East and Anissa Rivera came within one (9 points each).
The Owls got off to an 11-0 lead and never looked back. They added a 16-0 run early in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
The 31-point win is Temple's biggest margin of victory in a postseason game since a 78-52 win against Tulsa in the 2016 quarterfinals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
- The Owls started the game with an 11-0 run after Amaya Oliver's layup 45 seconds into the quarter. Tiarra East (4), Jaleesa Molina (2), and Tarriyonna Gary (3) added to the run.
- Temple shut out Charlotte until the 5:38 media timeout, forcing three turnovers and converting them into five points.
- Gary drilled her second three of the game at the 3:51 mark, extending Temple's lead to 12 (14-2).
- Temple led by 12 (18-6) to close out the first quarter.
Second Quarter
- Charlotte drew a foul and nailed both free throws, cutting into Temple's lead, 18-8, with 9:30 remaining in the first half.
- Anissa Rivera got on the scoresheet first for the Owls with a three, extending Temple's lead to 13 (21-8).
- After being in a three-minute scoring drought, Charlotte scored a jumper at the 5:54 mark, 23-10.
- The Owls built a 16-point lead, but Charlotte scored the final five points of the half. Still, Temple led by double digits to close out the first half (11), 28-17.
Third Quarter
- Molina opened the second half with a layup, making it a 13-point game, 19 seconds into the quarter.
- Temple went on a 16-0 run over a five-minute span, extending its lead to 27 points.
- Molina reached double digits (10), six of those 10 points coming from the first five minutes of the third quarter.
- Gary reached double digits (11) after making a fast-break layup, forcing Charlotte to call a timeout with just over two minutes remaining. Temple had a 27-point advantage, 46-19.
- Freshmen Savannah Curry and Felicia Jacobs closed out the third quarter with three made free throws, 53-26.
Fourth Quarter
- Oliver scored for the Owls following being fouled at the basket, putting Temple up 56-28.
- Heading into the media timeout at 4:51, Charlotte and Temple combined to shoot 0-8 from the floor while being in a scoring drought for over two minutes.
- A three from Drew Alexander increased Temple's lead to 31 points, making it 61-30, with less than three minutes remaining.
- The Owls would outscore Charlotte 12-8 in the final period to end the game 65-34.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Amaya Oliver had seven rebounds in the first half, five of those seven coming in the first quarter.
- Temple had 16 points in the paint, to Charlotte's two, in the first half.
- The Owls finished the first half shooting 32.4% on 11-34 shooting, while Charlotte shot 6-35 from the field, shooting 17.1%.
- Temple held Charlotte to 9 points in the third quarter and forced them into 7 turnovers.
- The Owls outscored Charlotte 37-17 in the second half of the game while totaling a season-high 56 rebounds.
- Temple picked up 20 points off of Charlotte's 18 turnovers.
UP NEXT
Temple will take on Rice (16-16) in the semifinals of the 2025 AAC Championship on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 pm ET. Rice entered as the No. 9 seed and defeated No. 1 seed UTSA, 62-58, in the quarterfinals.
