August 1, 2024 –
The next in a series for the Big Five athletic teams looking back at the bright, shining stars of the 2023-24 season.
We will name a team of the year and student athlete of the year for each school. In addition, we will list an honor roll of teams and student athletes. Team recognition will be noted by a championship, postseason advancement, and / or a significant achievement. To be named as a player one should have a national award or honor, a league accolade, significant achievement, or a team record.
Let’s take a look back at the past season at the Liacouras Center, The Linc, McGonigle Hall, the Temple Sports Complex, and the TU Pavilion for the Temple University Owls.
Team of the Year
Women’s Basketball
As the season progressed the team showed an understanding of the concepts and terms of Coach Diane Richardson, such as ELO – Early, Loud and Often – on defense. “Equal Opportunity Offense.” The team executed those principles, and it showed as the Owls moved up in the standings. After a February 19 win over Tulane, the Temple Owls moved into a tie for first place in the American. The team loved it. At the end of the campaign the Cherry and White earned a share of the conference regular season title, their first in a regular season since the 2011-12 season. Temple entered the tournament as the #3 seed. They won the first game, then played in a triple overtime game, outlasting Tulane. The season ended the following night losing a game to Rice. Guards Tiarra East and Aleah Nelson earned league recognition. East was All-AAC Second Team and Nelson was a Third Team selection. In the Big Five East made First Team, Nelson Second Team. East was the leading scorer at 13.3 points per game. She was first on the team with 50 steals. As a team Temple had 299 swipes. Nelson scored 11.8 per contest and led the squad with 134 assists. Tarriyonna Gary drained a team-best 63 three-point baskets. The Owls ranked 7th in the nation in offensive rebounds at 16.2 per game with Rayne Tucker pulling down 118 offensive boards. In turnover margin the Owls were atop the American at plus 4.66 per game. Temple finished with a 20 – 12 record, 13 – 5 in The American.
Student Athlete of the Year
Belle Mastropietro, Lacrosse, Midfielder
Mastropietro earned her third consecutive AAC Midfielder of the Year award and was on the league First Team for the fourth straight year. She led the team in goals with 39 and in points getting 63 which is among the league leaders. Her points per game average of nearly 4 is second in The American. Mastropietro also headed the Owls in Draw Controls winning 57 in a statistic where she holds the all-time school record. The midfielder scored a goal in every game until the final game against JMU in the Big East Tournament. Her streak of 23 straight multiple goal games was snapped. Mastropietro appeared on the Tewaraaton Award Watch List. USA Lacrosse named her Honorable Mention in their All-American team and was on the second team in the IWLCA All-Mid-Atlantic.
Team Honor Roll
Men’s Basketball
Coach Adam Fisher’s team made it very interesting at the end of the year. They came into The American Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas with a 12 – 19 record as the 11th seed. Temple beat #14 UTSA in a rematch of the last regular season game. The Owls would be playing higher seeds as long as their run lasted. Few expected that run would go all the way to the AAC Championship game. It did. Along the way Temple took out SMU, Charlotte, and Florida Atlantic and found themselves facing UAB for the title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The magical tour ended then, and the Owls wound up with a16 – 20 record. In the championship game guard Hysier Miller scored a career-high 32 points. He set the AAC Tournament record for scoring, getting 96 points during the week. He and Steve Settle made the All-Tournament Team. Earlier in the season Temple played for the inaugural Big Five Championship but fell short. Miller was named the Big Five Most Improved Player and was placed on the second team. Jordan Riley made Honorable Mention. Zion Stanford was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team. Miller led the Cherry and White in scoring at 15.9 points per game. Riley added 11.9 points and 6 rebounds per contest. For Temple, now the objective is to turn any of the finals into titles.
Women’s Tennis Doubles Team of Maiko Uchijima and Samantha Nanere
The team paired for doubles play for the first time at the ITA Super Regionals. The team won matches against Cornell (6-2, 6-2), Brown (6-3, 4-6, 10-2), and Yale (7-6, 3-6, 10-6) before falling to the top team from Brown. Uchijima and Nanere did achieve a top-twenty ranking and an invitation to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Doubles Championship. It is the second consecutive year that Owls had a doubles team in the national championships. Uchijima was on that team. In Oklahoma the Temple team lost to #14 NC State’s pair of Rajecki and Zampardo 7-6, 6-1 in the round of 32.
Fencing
Temple began the postseason winning its 28th straight NIFWA Championship where the 9th ranked team brought home the Olympians Trophy. Margherita Calderaro won the epee championship, her third consecutive, winning the final match 15 – 6. The foil title went to Anna Novoseltseva, again a third consecutive, and dominated in the final by a 15 – 3 score. Lauren Johnson lost in the sabre final 15-14. However, she was named first team sabre and Novoseltseva first-team foil. Johnson and Novoseltseva were selected to represent the Owls at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Temple finished 22nd overall. Johnson was named the USFCA Women’s Collegiate Newcomer of the Year. She was on the First-Team All-NIFWA and USFCA All-Region Second Team. She completes her first season on North Broad Street going 50 – 20 in sabre.
Student Athletes Honor Roll
Jordan Magee, Football, Linebacker
Magee led the Temple defense in tackles for the second consecutive year getting 80 total, 45 being solo stops. He had a season-best with 11 tackles against Navy and in three games Magee recorded 10. The linebacker was third in the league in tackles per game average (7.89) and second in tackles for a loss (1.39). In stops that resulted in a loss of yardage for the opponent Magee had 14, second in the AAC. In postseason accolades Magee was named second team in HERO Sports Group of Five All-American list. He was second team on the Phil Steele All-American Athletic Conference list. In the biggest team honor Magee wore a single digit jersey number.
Victor Stoffel, Football, Offensive Lineman
Another single digit jersey number athlete for the Owls, Stoffel was named to the Phil Steele All-Conference first team. He started every game for Temple. Stoffel received an All-AAC Honorable Mention honor. During the season he was the College Football Network Midseason All-AAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Juan Zepeda, Men’s Soccer, Forward
Zepeda earned the Philly Soccer Six Rookie of the Year award. The forward was also on the conference All-Rookie and Second Team. Zepeda was second on the team in goals with 3 and recorded 2 assists for 8 points. He was also ranked second in shots (20) and shots that required a save with 8.
Tess Muller, Field Hockey, Midfielder/Forward
Muller had a stellar season for the Owls earning All-Big East First Team and All-Tournament team honors. She led the team in goals netting 6. With 6 assists she was the team leader in points with 18. Muller had a team-best 21 shots on goal and 3 goals were game winners. The National Field Hockey Coaches Association placed Muller on the Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team.
Brooke Donabedian, Gymnastics
Donabedian received first team accolades in beam from the All-East Gymnastics League (EAGL). It was the first time in school history that an Owl gymnast received a first team honor. Donabedian qualified for the NCAA Gymnastics Regional for the third time, another first for the program. She finished tied for fourth on floor. She recorded a personal best score of 9.875 in the event. During the season she set a personal record score of 9.925 on beam in a March meet at New Hampshire.
Katie Shallow, Lacrosse, Defender
Shallow was the American Defensive Player of the Year and was also a conference first team selectee. She led the team and the league scooping up 57 ground balls and had 51 caused turnovers. Shallow averaged 3.56 caused turnovers to rank second in the nation and 3.50 ground balls per game was fourth. She holds the program record for most caused turnovers in a single season and the career mark. USA Lacrosse named her Honorable Mention in their All-American team and was on the second team in the IWLCA All-Mid-Atlantic. The ECAC named Shallow to their All-ECAC Division I team.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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