Temple Falls to Ole Miss in Non-Conference Finale
Written by: Noah Mazzeo
Photo by: Temple Athletics
To wrap up its non-conference slate, Temple (5-7) welcomed an experienced Ole Miss team (11-2) from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to the Liacouras Center but dropped the contest 75-55, failing to knock off the power-5 opponent.
The Rebels cruised to victory in an all-around team effort. Senior forward Tyia Singleton and junior forward Madison Scott co-led the Rebels in scoring with 16 points.
Singleton, a transfer from Rutgers, shot 7-14 from the field and recorded season-highs in both points (16) and blocks (3) with 4 rebounds and 2 steals. The Winter Haven, FL, native shot 0-3 from three-point range.
Scott, a former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, shot 6-9 from the field with 10 rebounds for a double-double.
For Ole Miss, points in the paint and points off turnovers were the deal breakers. The Rebels scored 36 points in the paint compared to 16 from the Owls. The Rebels also scored 25 points off turnovers compared to just 8 from the Owls. Ole Miss and Temple turned the ball over 13 and 19 times, respectively, but only Ole Miss capitalized on converting turnovers into points.
Senior guards Marquesha Davis and Angel Baker were also key for Ole Miss in handing Temple its seventh loss on the season. Davis scored 10 points and shot 2-2 from three, while Baker had 14 points and shot 6-10 from the field and 1-2 from three.
The biggest offensive contributors for Temple were sophomore forward Tiarra East and sophomore guard Jasha Clinton.
East scored 14 points off the bench. The Louisville, Ky. native shot 5-13 from the field, including 2-2 from three and 2-2 from the free throw line, with five rebounds and 2 assists. However, the former 4-star recruit shot 1-5 in the second half without attempting a three and had 4 turnovers.
Clinton had 16 points on 6-11 shooting with 2 assists. However, the 2021 Big 5 Rookie of the Year also had 4 turnovers.
Despite coming off a 33-point performance against Duquesne, senior guard and Towson transfer Aleah Nelson was held to just 7 points on 1-6 three-point shooting. Junior guard and fellow Towson transfer Tarriyona Gary scored 11 points on 1-7 three-point shooting.
As Ole Miss led 53-28 with 6:09 left in the third quarter, Nelson went down and had to be subbed out. Sophomore forward Ines Piper entered the game, but after a quick foul three seconds later at the 6:06 mark, fellow sophomore forward Caranda Parea entered. As the Rebels led 55-32 with 3:23 left in the third quarter, Nelson returned to the game. Piper ultimately fouled out with 5.7 seconds left in the third quarter.
Ole Miss shot 31 percent from three, a slightly higher percentage than their per game average (28.5). In the first half alone, the Rebels shot 3-6 from three. Temple shot 24 percent from three in the game, a significantly lower percentage than their per game average (33.7).
Next, the Owls host Memphis at the Liacouras Center to open conference play on Fri Dec. 30 at 2 p.m.
