Temple’s Struggles in Conference Opener Against UTSA

Philadelphia — The Temple Owls faced a tough challenge in their conference opener against UTSA, as they found themselves trailing by as many as 14 points throughout the game. Despite shooting just over 20% from the field through three quarters, the Owls managed to make a late push in the final quarter, but ultimately fell short in a 50-47 loss.

The game started with some promising moments for the Owls. Guard Tristen Taylor, who had missed the previous four games due to an ankle injury, returned to the starting lineup and immediately made an impact. She scored Temple’s first basket with a layup and helped the team take an early 6-2 lead. Taylor finished the game with 18 points on 5-of-12 shooting, showing no signs of rust after her injury.

However, the Owls’ offense quickly struggled. In the first 10 minutes of the game, they shot just 4-for-19 from the field, but their defense kept them competitive. UTSA, on the other hand, shot an even worse 20%, allowing Temple to enter the second quarter with an 8-7 lead. But as the game progressed, UTSA took control, going on a 12-2 run to take a 21-14 lead with two-and-a-half minutes left in the second quarter.

Temple’s offensive struggles continued into the second half. Kaylah Turner, who averaged 23 points in the four games without Taylor, was not able to carry the team on her own. She shot just 3-of-18 from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range. Head coach Diane Richardson noted that Turner took some quick shots that did not help the team.

Despite shooting only 24.2% from the field and missing all 12 three-point attempts, Temple remained within reach heading into the third quarter. However, the offense regressed further in the second half, shooting just 1-for-11 from the field in the third quarter. The team managed to stay within striking distance thanks to six made free throws, trailing 39-27 with 10 minutes to play.

The Owls finally found their rhythm in the fourth quarter. Guard Drew Alexander hit three consecutive threes, and Turner added another three to cut the deficit to three points with 24 seconds left. UTSA’s missed free throws gave Temple two chances to tie the game, but a turnover and a missed three by Taylor sealed the loss.

“I feel good. I feel like I worked my way back from my injury,” Taylor said. “I was doing the things in the game that I was doing in practice. I felt comfortable and confident.”

While Taylor’s return was a positive sign, the Owls also suffered a setback when guard Savannah Curry went down with an undisclosed injury. Coach Richardson said Curry will be out for “a little while.” Without Curry, who had started every game this season, the team will need more contributions from its bench unit, which did not produce a single point in the game.

“We’ve had depth all year and the feeling in the locker room is that when you come off the bench you have to be ready,” Richardson said. “We expect them to be ready. This week we will work on them making an impact.”

Temple will continue its conference play at Wichita State on January 6 at 7 p.m. The team will need to find consistency and improve its offensive efficiency if it hopes to compete in the American Athletic Conference.