Temple Women’s Basketball opened up the season Friday with a win at Saint Joe’s, defeating the Hawks for the first time in four years.
After Saint Joes scored the first bucket of the game, Temple would absolutely dominate as the Owls would score 50 points in the first half, the first time Temple has done so since Dec. 19 of last year against Delaware State. The Owls would also never give up a lead after a go ahead free throw shot from Tanaya Atkinson to go up 6-5 midway through the first quarter.
The Owls would see great production from it’s four returning starters.
Leading the way would be Junior Tanaya Atkinson scoring a game high 24 points including 15 points coming in the 2nd half , and 7 rebounds. Fellow Junior Donnaizha Fountain would notch 20 points, and 8 rebounds. Senior Feyonda Fitzgerald would score all of her 16 points in the first half, and 13 out of her 16 points came in the first quarter. Finally, Junior Aaliyah Butts would notch 12 points and 4 steals.
The team as a whole out rebounded the Hawks 36-33, had 10 steals, and shot 46% from the field. The Owls also shot 50% from three.
The Owls lead as much as 29 points in the game before Temple Head Coach Tonya Cardoza would pull her starters late in the fourth quarter. The Owls would have two impressive runs that would lead to the 29 point lead including a 15-5 run to start the 3rd quarter, and an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter to put the score at 79-50.
Saint Joes outscored the Owls in the fourth quarter 21-15, and would end the game on a 19-7 run, but the run wouldn’t be enough as Temple would defeat the Hawks 86-70.
The win comes as Temple’s first victory of the season, and the Owl’s first over Saint Joes since Feb. 1, 2012; the victory happened to be the last time Temple defeated the Hawks in A10 conference play.
Temple’s next game will be there home opener at Mcgonigle hall Monday at 5pm against fellow Big 5 opponent La Salle.
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