Mia Davis Scored a Game-High 14 Points in the Loss
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 2/9/2022 –
When the Temple Owls and the USF Bulls play against each other the game is usually a physical battle. This one, no different. The Owls fought from behind the entire game. Trailing by three late in the last four-plus minutes, Temple did not score again and drop the decision 49 – 40 to the USF at McGonigle Hall. Effort was there as the Cherry and White nearly erased two 11-point Bulls leads, but the breaks were not.
“Even though we lost this game we were really fighting,” said Temple Coach Tonya Cardoza. “In the second half to be down 11 and continue to fight, fight, fight to the point where there were three minutes to play and its anyone’s ball game, and, yes, very physical, and we’re in the game fighting.”
During the last quarter of the game each team tried to get control of the game, and it was not going to be on offense. USF won the last ten minutes by an 8 – 4 margin, and each team would score only two baskets. USF pulled ahead by making 4 of 6 free throws. Temple did not go to the foul line.
Owls guard Aniya Gourdine made a jumper with 4:13 to cut the gap to 43 – 40. It would be the last points Temple would score as the Owls missed their last seven shots. USF did not run away with the game getting just one more basket by Elisa Perzan at the 2:09 mark. The Bulls put the game away at the foul line.
From the field Temple made 18 of 62 shots (29%), and made only 2 of 15 from beyond the arc. USF did not fare much better making 19 of their 61 attempts (31.1%), and drained 2 of their three-pointers. On the foul line the Bulls had an advantage making 9 of 12 while the Owls were just 2 of 3 from the charity stripe as 7 fouls were called on UCF. Temple had 18 whistles.
“With our style of play we usually get to the foul line more than three times,” said Cardoza.
“We worked our tails off to get back into the game. “We’re being super aggressive looking to attack. I felt like we got the short end of the stick.”
Temple turned the ball over 17 times leading to 13 USF points. The Bulls had 13 turnovers, but the Owls did not make them pay for their miscues getting only 4 points off turnovers.
Kyra Wood pulled down 11 rebounds for the Cherry and White, one shy of her career-high. She added 6 points. Gourdine contributed 8 points and 3 assists.
USF had three players score in double-digits as Bethy Mununga and Elena Tsineke each scored 13 points. Dulsy Fankam Mendjiadeu registered a double-double getting 11 points and 15 rebounds. Mununga pulled down 12 caroms. Half of both players rebounds came off the offensive glass.
South Florida improves to 17 – 6 and 7 – 2 in the league. Their 49 points matched their lowest output of the season at Tennessee.
Temple is 11 – 10 on the campaign and 6 – 4 in the American. The Owls travel to Tulsa for a Saturday game before returning home to host league leading UCF a week later. This was not the result they wanted, and the team needs to focus on continual improvement.
“We can control how many second chance opportunities we give up,” Cardoza said. “We can control how many times we turn the basketball over. We can control getting into the gym and be able to make open shots. Things you can control, we have to take advantage of those things, and today we didn’t.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
Be the first to comment