PHILADELPHIA- Four double-digit scorers allowed the Temple Owls to squeak past the South Florida Bulls and avoid a four-game skid. Temple remained home as the Charlotte 49ers traveled to North Philadelphia as they looked to go above .500 in conference play after a blowout victory against Florida Atlantic their last time out.
Charlotte had total control over this game for the first three and a half quarters, but Tristen Taylor turned it up a couple of notches to bring the game back. A perfect fourth quarter by Taylor and two late free throws completed the 26-point comeback in a narrow 83-82 victory.
”It just showed the resilience we had,” head coach Diane Richardson said. “It showed that we weren’t giving up, and they just rallied together, not looking at the score and just executing, and I’m really, really proud of them.”
Charlotte guard Zoe Best had the hot hand early; two straight three-point baskets pushed the 49ers to a quick 6-0 start that forced a Temple timeout. Owls guard Tristen Taylor scored Temple’s first basket almost three and a half minutes in to cut the lead in half.
The 49ers found gold from beyond the arc. Three players hit two three pointers and shot 6-10 as a team from long range to hold a commanding 25-15 lead at the end of the first. Taylor kept her side in it with eight points and two rebounds.
Three point basket from Savannah Curry
Temple found the basket but was unable to stop Charlotte as they began trading baskets, as they trailed 34-26 after a media timeout was called. The 49ers kicked it into high gear as the first half came to a close.
The three pointers continued to drop for the 49ers, and three of their last four field goals were from beyond the arc as part of an 11-2 run to take a commanding 47-32 advantage going into halftime. Charlotte could not miss in the first half and shot 51% from the floor but 62% from beyond the arc.
“We needed to wake up, and we needed to play better defense, we needed to rebound and go into halftime, our rebounding was not there,” coach Richardson said. “It let our team know that you have to fight harder for rebounds, and I think they stepped up.”
Tristen Taylor basket giving her 30 points
Best and Hayes both had 14 first-half points, and each had at least three three-pointers. Hayes was a go-to player for Charlotte as she tacked on rebounds and six assists.
Taylor was the bright spot for the Owls with points, a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc, and she hit all four of her free throws. Forward Saniyah Craig chipped in six points but made plays in other ways with four rebounds and three assists, which both led the team.
”She (Tristen Taylor) of all people is the most poised on the team”, coach Richardson said.
Temple had issues getting the lid off the basket in the first half, shooting near 40% from both the field and the three-point line. The Owls got outworked and trailed in the rebound department 19-14 and in assists 15-7.
Last Second Heave from Charlotte falls just short at the end of regulation
Charlotte opened up the second half on a mission to put this game away and did just that halfway through the third quarter. Best and Hayes continued their offensive ways, but forward Asianae Nicholson joined the party as she had seven points on perfect 3-3 shooting that forced an Owls timeout as the 49ers led 63-42.
The 49ers came out of the timeout and still put their foot on the gas and did not allow Temple to gain any sort of momentum. The Owls trailed in many major categories as Charlotte completely took this game over and led 76-54 heading into the fourth and final quarter.
With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Temple showed fight in the early stages as they went perfect from the field and scored seven points, but a media timeout by the 49ers still had the Owls trailing 78-61. Temple kept up the fight as guard Savannah Curry provided a spark off the bench with six points, a rebound, and two assists as the Owls now trail 80-73 with just under five minutes to go.
”I love to use her (Savannah Curry) length; she uses her length on defense and we saw that with her getting tips on the ball,” coach Richardson said. “I’m glad that she’s filling that role and we’re going to have her play other roles as well.”
Curry and Taylor have willed the Owls back into this game, and a costly turnover by Charlotte gave Temple the ball as they trailed 82-79 with 42 seconds remaining in regulation. A basket by Taylor gave her her 30th point in the afternoon; neither side could inbound the ball in back-to-back-to-back turnovers.
Taylor had the clutch factor as she knocked down two key free throws to cap off a 32-point, four-rebound, six-assist night. She went perfect in the fourth quarter from the field, the three-point line, and from the charity stripe.
”I went 50% from the free throw line last game, and I’ve been in the gym shooting free throws a lot this week,” Taylor said. “I felt when I stepped up there, I didn’t have any nerves from practicing and being confident all week.”
The Owls outscored Charlotte 29-6 in the final quarter as the 49ers went ice cold, 25% from the field, and missed all six of their three-point attempts.
Temple couldn’t miss from anywhere when it mattered most, 56% from the field, and 75% from beyond the arc and the free-throw line.
Temple will hit the road to face the fellow Owls of Rice University on Wednesday at 8 p.m.