Owls Rally for Historic Comeback Win Over Charlotte

Saturday, January 24

Philadelphia, Pa.

1 PM

Temple University

9-10,3-4American

Charlotte

9-11,3-4American

Charlotte

Temple

Owls Rally for Historic Comeback Win Over Charlotte

1.24.26 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA — The Temple women's basketball team (9–10, 3–4 American) completed a historic comeback Saturday afternoon, rallying to defeat the Charlotte 49ers (9–11, 3–4 American), 83–82, at home. Tristen Taylor led all scorers with 32 points, setting a new career high. She shot an efficient 10-for-13 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. Kaylah Turner added 17 points, finishing 5-for-10 from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point range.

How It Happened
First Quarter

Zoe Best opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers within the first two minutes to give Charlotte an early 6–0 lead.
Taylor ended Temple's 3:30 scoring drought with a three, cutting the deficit to 6–3.
Jaleesa Molina followed with a behind-the-back layup to pull the Owls within three, 8–5.
Taylor again found nothing but net from beyond the arc to tie the game at eight.
After a three from Tanajah Hayes, Charlotte ignited a 6–0 run to take a 14–8 lead.
Caroline Thiel knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to spark another 6–0 run, extending Charlotte's advantage to 23–10.
Molina cut to the basket for a layup with 22 seconds remaining to close the quarter, as Charlotte led 25–15.

Second Quarter

Turner opened the quarter with a corner three to bring Temple within 10, 29–19.
Best connected on her third three of the contest to extend Charlotte's lead to 32–19.
Saniyah Craig found Taylor for another three, cutting the deficit to eight, 32–24.
A Turner steal and fastbreak layup sparked a 7–0 run for the Owls, trimming the margin to six, 32–26.
Following three-pointers from Best and Imani Smith, Charlotte closed the half on a 9–0 run.
Temple struggled offensively down the stretch, enduring a scoring drought of over three minutes.
Kelian Cedano hit a pull-up jumper to close the half, giving Charlotte a 47–32 lead at the break.

Third Quarter

Drew Alexander converted a three-point play to make it 47–35.
Alexander later knocked down a three, but Charlotte maintained control, leading 52–38.
Hayes finished a layup to push the 49ers' lead to 56–38, their largest of the game at that point.
After an offensive rebound by Best and a pull-up jumper, Charlotte extended its lead to 60–40.
Taylor answered with a mid-range jumper to make it 65–44 with 3:48 remaining in the quarter.
Ariana Meriedy scored her first basket of the night on a layup under the basket, making it 65–46.
Following a technical foul on Charlotte, Turner knocked down two free throws and hit a last-second jumper to end the quarter. Charlotte led 76–54 heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

Temple opened the final period with back-to-back baskets from Taylor and Turner, cutting the deficit to 76–58.
Savannah Curry hit a corner three for her first points of the night, making it 78–61.
After consecutive three-pointers from Curry, the Owls sparked a 6–0 run.
Curry added another three, followed by a jumper from Taylor, pulling Temple within 11, 80–69.
Temple went on a 12–2 run over a 2:18 span.
Turner broke her defender's ankles and drilled a wide-open three to make it 80–73.
Out of the media timeout, Taylor buried a three to cut the lead to four, 80–76.
Charlotte committed four turnovers in a five-possession span and six turnovers over more than five minutes.
Taylor knocked down another three from the same spot to ignite the crowd, making it 80–79.
Taylor's floater with 17.3 seconds remaining pulled Temple within one, 82–81.
With 3.5 seconds left, Taylor was fouled and calmly knocked down both free throws to give Temple its first lead of the game, 83–82.
Charlotte's halfcourt attempt at the buzzer fell short, sealing the largest comeback in program history after Temple trailed by as many as 26 points.

Inside the Box

Charlotte shot 51% (18-for-35) from the field in the first half, while Temple shot 41% (11-for-27).
Temple shot 40% (4-for-10) from three in the first half, while Charlotte connected on 63% (10-for-16).
Charlotte outrebounded Temple 19–14 at halftime.
Taylor led Temple with 13 first-half points.
Temple outscored Charlotte 29–6 in the fourth quarter.
The Owls shot 55% (10-for-18) from the field in the final quarter, while Charlotte shot 25% (3-for-12).
Taylor scored 17 of her 32 points in the fourth quarter, with Curry and Turner also contributing.
The 26-point comeback is the largest in Temple women's basketball history.
Temple led for just the final three seconds of the game.

Up Next
The Owls will travel to Rice on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off. The game will air live on ESPN+.