PHILADELPHIA – The Temple women’s basketball team (12-9, 6-3 AAC) defeated the Wichita State Shockers (6-16, 2-8 AAC), 66-65. The Owls overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to secure the conference victory at home with a three-point buzzer beater by Tiarra East.
East led the way with 15 points, including the dramatic last play of the game. Three Owls finished in double figures in the comeback effort and all nine players contributed points.
First Quarter: Temple 15, Wichita State 13
> Temple took the opening tip and Aleah Nelson quickly sank a three-pointer.
> By the first timeout, Nelson had the games’ only buckets from the field with two threes and one two-pointer. All other points were scored from the foul line and Temple had a 12-2 advantage.
> The Owls and Shockers endured a five minute stretch in which just one field goal was scored.
> Wichita State scored the periods final seven points to cut into Temple’s lead (15-13, TU)
> Nelson led the way with 8 first-quarter points.
> The teams combined to shoot 24% from the field (TU 4-16, WS 4-17).
Second Quarter: Wichita State 34, Temple 28
> The Shockers hit an early basket on the first possession of the second quarter, tying the game at 15-15. Tarriyona Gary answered with a basket of her own (17-15, TU).
> A three-pointer by Wichita State at 6:37 gave the Shockers their first lead of the game (22-21).
> The Shockers stretched a 7-0 run that put the Owls down 25-21 at the 5:13 mark of the quarter.
> The Owls retook the lead with a jumper by Rayne Tucker at the 1:34 mark that capped a 6-0 run by the Owls (28-27, TU).
> A steal followed by a turnover gave the Shockers four easy points in the final minute of the half as they closed out the period with a 7-0 run.
> Seven Owls contributed to the scoring in the first half led by Nelson’s nine points.
Third Quarter: Wichita State 51,Temple 48
> A steal by Ines Piper led to a layup by Piper that gave Temple its first field goal of the second half and cut the WSU lead to 36-32.
> A 8-2 Temple run, aided by four free throws and a field goal by Tiarra East, closed the gap (40-38 WSU).
> Wichita State responded with a 7-0 run that put the Shockers up 47-38 with 5:38 remaining in the third quarter.
> The Owls continued the back-and-forth swing, closing the gap to 48-44 after a three-pointer from Tarriyona Gary capped a 6-1 Temple run.
> WSU’s last field goal of the period was at 5:48. They made just four free throws to end the third. That allowed Temple to complete a 10-4 run to close out the quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Temple 66, Wichita State 65
> Temple opened with a 4-1 run that gave the Owls a lead or tie for the first time since 1:23 remaining in the second quarter. Three straight points by Demi Washington put the Owls up 53-52.
> The teams traded points before Rayne Tucker stole a pass that led to a fastbreak jumper by Tristen Taylor giving Temple a 57-56 lead with 4:59 remaining.
> Temple and Wichita State exchanged buckets in the late stages, as a jumper from the top of the key by Nelson put the Owls up 59-58 with 2:55 remaining in regulation.
> The game was back-and-forth to the finish, as Tucker hit a mid range jumper with 0:44 remaining to tie the game at 63-63.
> After Wichita State hit a jump shot to take a 65-63 lead with 17 seconds to go, the Owls took the ball down the court looking to force overtime or come away with a game-winner. East did just that, converting on a three-pointer as time expired to give Temple the 66-65 victory.
Statistically Speaking
> Three Owls finished in double digits and all nine players contributed points.
> East’s game-winning three comes just one week after missing out on a game-winning shot against SMU by just a matter of split seconds.
> Rayne Tucker grabbed 11 rebounds, coming up just two shy of a season high.
Game Notes
> Prior to the game, Aleah Nelson was honored for eclipsing 1,500 career points.
Up Next
> The Owls will head south to face the Charlotte 49ers on Sunday. The game will tip at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN+ and The Varsity Network App.