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PHILADELPHIA - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team fell to the Temple Owls, 74-51, on Sunday afternoon inside McGonigle Hall.
// THE SHORT STORY
After Temple brought a 22-15 lead into the second quarter, the Bearcats turned up the intensity in the second period. UC scored the first 11 points of the quarter and increased its lead to as many as eight points. The Owls responded to their deficit with an 8-0 run to even things up at 34 heading into the third. Temple then flipped the script on UC and owned the third quarter, 19-9, to take a 53-43 advantage. Armed with the momentum, the home team went on a 7-3 run to start the final stanza and quickly took control of the game. In total, the Owls scored 21 to the Bearcats' eight in the fourth to set back UC, 74-51.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Alyesha Lovett: 23 points | 6 rebounds | 2 steals
Jasmine Whitfield: 6 points | 8 rebounds
Shelbi Chandler: 6 points | 4 rebounds
TEMPLE
Alliya Butts: 24 points | 3 rebounds | 3 steals
Tanaya Atkinson: 19 points | 8 rebounds
Donnaizha Fountain: 12 points | 10 rebounds | 2 assists
// KEY RUNS
- With both teams sporting five-guard lineups to begin the game, play was fast paced with back-and-forth action. The Bearcats fell behind 6-2, but responded by outscoring the Owls 9-4 to lead 11-10 five-and-a-half minutes into the contest. Temple countered its deficit with a 12-4 run over the duration of the period to take a 22-15 advantage into the second quarter.
- The Bearcats scored the first 11 points of the second period to take a 26-22 lead with 5:30 to go before halftime. UC kept the steak going throughout the quarter, even increasing its lead to a game-high eight points, 34-26, with 2:30 to go. The home team responded, though, ending the quarter with an 8-0 run to even things up at 34 the break.
- Temple stormed out of halftime to score the opening six points of the third quarter. UC broke the streak on a Lovett lay-in with 5:52 left in the period. The Owls built their lead up to seven points, 45-38, but the Bearcats responded with a 5-0 run to pull within two with 2:20 to go. UT then ended the quarter with an 8-0 surge to take a game-high 53-43 advantage.
- The Owls opened the final period on a 7-3 run and progressively began to increase their lead throughout the quarter. In total for the period, TU outscored UC, 21-8, to gain the victory.
// TEAM NOTES
- The Bearcats scored 20 or more points in the paint for the 12th time this season with 24 on the day.
- UC got more than 10 points from its bench for the eighth-consecutive game with 16 for the contest.
- The Bearcats limited the Owls to 38.4 percent shooting. On the season, TU shoots the ball at a 41.7 percent clip.
- UC turned 11 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points.
- The Bearcats dished out nine assists on 19 made field goals.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Lovett recorded her second 20-plus point game of the season - second in her last three games - and the fourth of her career with a team-best 23 points.
- Coming off of the bench for the first time this season, senior forward Shelbi Chandler (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) contributed six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
- Sophomore point guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) totaled four points, six rebounds, and a team-high three assists.
- Senior guard Jasmine Whitfield grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. Sunday marks the fourth time this season and the eighth time of her career the senior has led the team in rebounds.
// UP NEXT
UC will continue its road swing when it travels to Tulsa, Oklahoma to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted live on The American Digital Network. Also, a live audio stream can be accessed through Bearcats TV, while live stats will be available here.