Craig, Turner Lead Owls to Thrilling Victory Over USF

Tuesday, January 20

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 PM

Temple University

8-10,2-4American

USF

12-8,5-2American

South Fla.

Temple

Craig, Turner Lead Owls to Thrilling Victory Over USF

1.20.26 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women's basketball team (8-10, 2-4 American) won a nail-biter over the South Florida Bulls (12-8, 5-2 American), 86-83, at home on Tuesday evening. Kaylah Turner led the Owls with 23 points, shooting 7-for-15 from the field and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Saniyah Craig also delivered a strong performance, scoring a season-high 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting.

How It Happened
First Quarter

Carla Brito hit a three-pointer to open the scoring, giving the Bulls an early 3-0 lead.
Saniyah Craig answered with a layup to put Temple on the board, making it 3-2.
Kaylah Turner and Brito traded threes as the Owls took their first lead with seven minutes remaining, 7-6.
Edyn Battle followed with back-to-back baskets to push USF ahead, 10-7.
Turner knocked down another three to tie the game at 10 with 5:43 left.
Craig scored on a post move to give Temple a 15-12 advantage.
In the final minutes of the quarter, USF went 0-for-4 from the floor and just 1-for-7 overall, while Temple endured a scoring drought of more than two and a half minutes.

Second Quarter

Temple opened the quarter without a basket for more than two minutes before Jaleesa Molina finished a layup, cutting the deficit to 20-18.
Molina followed with a three-pointer to bring the Owls within one, 22-21.
After both teams traded steals, Tristen Taylor pulled up from the free-throw line to make it 26-23 USF.
Following a flurry of threes from both sides, Temple trailed 31-29 heading into the media timeout with 4:43 remaining in the half.
Out of the break, the Owls went scoreless for more than two minutes, missing all four shot attempts.
L'or Mputu closed the half with a last-second basket, sending USF into halftime with a 41-35 lead.

Third Quarter

Turner opened the half with a crafty drive and banked-in basket to cut the deficit to four, 49-43.
After a three-pointer from Davidson, the Bulls went on a 6-0 run.
Temple responded as Turner drained her fourth three of the night to pull the Owls within five.
The teams traded baskets, with USF holding a 60-53 lead entering the final four minutes of the quarter.
Savannah Curry scored her first basket of the night late in the period, making it 66-61 USF.

Fourth Quarter

Craig converted a layup and a free throw to bring Temple within three, 69-66.
Less than a minute later, Molina scored through contact and completed the three-point play, capping an 8-0 Owls run and giving Temple a 71-69 lead.
Battle snapped USF's scoring drought with a layup to tie the game at 71.
Turner delivered a highlight-reel basket after falling to the floor and was fouled, pushing Temple ahead 75-71.
Mputu answered with a bank shot to cut the deficit to two, 75-73.
Craig battled for an offensive rebound and finished inside to make it 78-75 with 4:21 remaining.
After three offensive rebounds, USF drew a foul, and Mputu made both free throws to bring the Bulls within one, 80-79, with three minutes left.
Brito hit a wide-open three to give USF an 83-81 advantage.
Taylor responded with a friendly roll off the glass to tie the game at 83 with 1:56 remaining.
Turner sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final second, securing the 86-83 victory.

Inside the Box

USF outrebounded Temple 34-27 and held a 19-13 edge at halftime.
The Bulls scored 23 bench points compared to Temple's six.
Turner led the Owls with 11 first-half points, while Molina added 10.
USF finished the game on a 2:21 scoring drought, making just one of its final seven field-goal attempts.
Temple shot 53% from the field (29-for-55), while USF shot 48% (32-for-66).
The Bulls shot 67% from three-point range (8-for-12), while the Owls shot 50% (8-for-16).
Molina went a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, her most made threes in a game this season.

Up Next
The Owls continue their homestand on Saturday, Jan. 24, hosting Charlotte. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. and will air live on ESPN+.