Temple Survives Tulane in OT, Advances in Conference Tournament

Owls to face No. 6 seed UTSA in second round after comeback win

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:12am

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The Temple Owls women's basketball team overcame a late collapse in regulation to defeat Tulane 86-77 in overtime in the first round of the American Conference tournament. Led by guard Kaylah Turner's 31 points and 8 three-pointers, as well as a double-double from Saniyah Craig, Temple rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final 40 seconds to force overtime and then pull away in the extra period.

Why it matters

The win advances Temple to the second round of the conference tournament, where they will face No. 6 seed UTSA. It was an impressive comeback for the Owls, who struggled shooting for much of the game before finding their rhythm late to secure the victory.

The details

After Tulane scored the first four points of overtime, Temple responded with an 11-0 run to take control of the game. The run was sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Turner, as well as a three from Savannah Curry and a layup from Jaleesa Molina. Overall, Temple won despite shooting just 32.4% from the field, but they were able to capitalize on 22 Tulane turnovers and score 24 fast break points.

  • The game was played on Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the American Conference women's basketball tournament.
  • Temple will face No. 6 seed UTSA on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the second round.

The players

Kaylah Turner

A guard for Temple who scored a game-high 31 points and hit 8 three-pointers.

Saniyah Craig

A forward for Temple who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Tristen Taylor

A guard for Tulane who scored 14 points, all from the free throw line.

Mecailin Marshall

A player for Tulane who scored the first four points of overtime for her team.

Diane Richardson

The head coach of the Temple Owls women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little too comfortable with the lead late, but I'm proud of the way the team responded in overtime to get the win.”

— Diane Richardson, Head Coach, Temple Owls

What’s next

The winner of the Temple-UTSA second round matchup will advance to the semifinals of the American Conference tournament.

The takeaway

Temple's comeback victory showcases the resilience of the Owls, who were able to overcome a late collapse and poor shooting performance to advance in the conference tournament. The team will need to carry that momentum into the second round as they face a tough UTSA squad.