Second Half Surge Pushes Women's Basketball Over Marist

Saturday, December 16

McGonigle Hall

2:00 p.m.

Temple University

8-3

Marist

3-8

Marist

Temple

Photo by: Carli Showmaker

Second Half Surge Pushes Women's Basketball Over Marist

12.16.17 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Video Highlights Post-Marist Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple women's basketball team rallied for an 83-77 win over visiting Marist at McGonigle Hall on Saturday afternoon. Strong three point shooting and a lights-out 81.8% shooting effort in the fourth quarter got the Owls back in the win column, moving to 8-3 overall, while Marist falls to 3-8.

KEYS TO THE GAME
> Marist led 34-29 at the half, before Temple outscored the visitors 21-14 in the third.
> Temple did not trail after the third quarter, although Marist kept it to a one posession game much of the final frame.
> Both teams were on fire in the fourth quarter -- Temple shot 81.8% (9-11), while Marist went 75.0% (12-16).
> Temple was able to seal the victory down the stretch with hot three point shooting from freshman Emani Mayo and junior Lena Niang.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
> Four players finished in double-digits in scoring for Temple -- senior Tanaya Atkinson (25), Niang (18), and freshmen Mia Davis (18), and Emani Mayo (11).
> Davis rounded out her night with a game-best 15 rebounds, helping the Owls to a 43-27 advantage on the glass.
> Atkinson finished with 25 points, eight boards, and four assists.
> Niang shot 6-for-8 from long-range, smashing her previous career high of six points.
> Mayo scored all 11 of her points in the fourth quarter, while dishing out a team-best five helpers.

FIRST QUARTER
> Temple was hot from three early on, taking an 11-6 advantage to start play.
> Marist rattled off a 9-0 run to take a 16-11 lead.
> Niang connected on another Owl three to break up the Red Foxes run, making it 16-14.
> Marist got the final bucket of the frame to make it 18-14 visitors after one.

SECOND QUARTER
> Temple opened with an 8-0 run to take a 22-18 lead.
> Marist quickly answered with nine unanswered to go up 30-24.
> Another Niang three cut it to 30-27, but back-to-back Marist buckets gave them their largest lead of the game at 34-29.
> Temple's Atkinson got the last score of the half, sending the teams into the break with Marist up 34-29.

THIRD QUARTER
> Davis was the story of the third quarter, as the rookie scored all nine Temple points during a 9-3 opening run that put the Owls up 38-37.
> The lead changed hands twice more, with Marist going up 48-46 on a three from Maura Fitzpatrick.
> Temple ended the frame with back-to-back buckets from Tanaya Atkinson to take a 50-48 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER
> Niang and Emani Mayo kept the Owls on top in the fourth quarter, each hitting big threes early on.
> Niang's third of the quarter gave t he Owls their largest lead of the game, 64-56 with 6:24 to play.
> Marist chipped away, cutting it to just two points, 75-73, with 0:53 remaining.
> Emani Mayo nailed a three from the corner with 27 seconds left to play sparking the Owls down the stretch.
> Marist would get no closer the rest of the way, as Temple sealed the win by going 5-of-6 from the line in the final 17 seconds.

UP NEXT
> Temple hosts defending NCAA Champion, #4/5 South Carolina, on Thursday at the Liacouras Center.
> The Owls and Gamecocks will square off at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN3.
> Temple will retire all-time great Candice Dupree's #4 at halftime of the game.