Maddy Siegrist Scores 41 Points to Lead the Wildcats
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 11/20/2022 –
The expected City Series battle between the Temple Owls and Villanova Wildcats materialized at the Liacouras Center. Temple held a lead going into the fourth quarter, but Villanova kept their poise, and led by forward Maddy Siegrist, who scored 41 points, and came away with a 74 – 71. The game was contested until the end.
“That was a battle, said Villanova Coach Denise Dillon. “It was definitely expected. A Big Five game. Temple played a really good basketball game. A tough way to finish. I’m proud of of our group. Down double-digits, Maddy led the way for us, again. Really excited to get a big win in the Big Five.”
Siegrist tied her career-high for points in a Big Five game, and fell one-point short of her overall career-best in scoring. She put in 18 points in the critical fourth quarter. Nova won those ten minutes by a 25 – 14 margin. Siegrist added 16 rebounds to record her fourth-double-double of the season.
The Fourth Quarter Surge
Temple held a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter. Going into the final stanza it was a 57 – 48 lead. Then the Owls stopped scoring, not getting a point until Tarriyonna Gary, who led Temple with a season-best 23 points, 7 of 9 from distance, made a basket with 4:19 remaining ending a streak of five consecutive missed shots. Villanova pulled ahead 61 – 57 to that point. The sense of the team was that they were prepared.
“It’s like situations at practice,” said Siegrist. “Down eight, six minutes to go, you do that in practice and you’re ready for it in a game. It’s a get a stop, get a score mentality.”
In the second half Villanova had three or more stops in a row three or four times.
“We weren’t executing our offense,” said Temple Coach Diane Richardson. “We took some quick shots and didn’t rebound. We got one shot and had to get back. That’s what happened in the fourth quarter.”
Temple Got Close at the End
The Owls fought back getting to within 70 – 68 on a Gary three-pointer, Villanova would answer from the free throw line making 7 of 10 by Kaitlyn Orihel, Bella Runyan, and Siegrist. The end of game saw Temple get to within a possession within the last 15 seconds, on a three-pointer by Aleah Nelson. But a last shot was off the mark. The Owls did not go away, but the Wildcats stayed focused on the task at hand.
“They made some tough shots that we thought we contested really well,” Siegrist said. “Credit to them. When another team makes a tough shot over the top of somebody or banks a shot, you have to say all right, next play.”
What the Numbers Say
Villanova held a 46 – 33 advantage on the boards, and 18 – 15 on the offensive glass. Forward Christina Dalce took down 12 rebounds, with an equal number offensive and defensive. Brooke Mullin handed out 8 assists.
Gary made 8 of 10 field goal attempts and set a season-high in three-pointers made and in points.
“I was confident because at practice I work on that,” Gary said. “Coach believes in me. My teammates, they want me to shoot it so that’s what I am going to do.”
Aleah Nelson scored a season-high 20 points and dished out 8 assists.
Up Next
Villanova (4 – 0, 2 – 0) plays Belmont next at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Temple (1 – 3) matches up against Saint Joseph’s in another Big Five game.
“The Big Five is big in Philly,” Richardson said. “I know it’s going to be a test with all five of us. It’s bragging rights. so I was hoping we could pull this one out. We’ve got Saint Joseph’s next. We’re going to continue to work and try to represent Temple well especially in the Big Five. Some people were taking notice today. We are trying to win.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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