University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Rally in Fourth Quarter but Fall Late at Temple
Feb 22, 2026 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Memphis women's basketball was in another tight game down the stretch on Sunday afternoon at Liacouras Center, falling 65-62 to Temple.
The Tigers (8-19, 2-12 American) roared back into the game, leading late after trailing by 11 in the third quarter, but the Owls made enough plays down the stretch to pick up their second consecutive win. Daejah Richmond again led the team in scoring with 21 points, and Kennedi Alexander added a season-high 14 behind three three-pointers.
It was a high-intensity game from the jump with both teams desperate for a win as the regular season draws closer to its end. Memphis went on an early 9-0 run to lead, 13-9, but Temple (12-14, 6-8 American) responded with a 7-0 run of their own. Closing with a Tamya Smith bucket, the Tigers shot 46.7% from the field in the first period and led, 16-14.
The offensive woes sparked up in the second quarter; Alexander and Richmond each connected on a three-pointer, but as a team Memphis shot just 2-of-8 on twos and 4-of-15 overall. After being called for nine fouls to Temple's five in the first half, it flipped in the third quarter with the Tigers getting to the line 11 times, but they missed seven of them as the free throw shooting proved costly again. Temple led by as much as 50-39 before Richmond's second three.
Trailing by 10 just before the quarter's close, Memphis woke up in a big way, beginning with a Paris Gaines and-one layup to cut the lead to seven with 10 minutes to play. They opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run, capped by five points in as many seconds from Alexander. Leading 58-54, the Tigers saw the Owls knot the score with two quick buckets before Smith answered with a layup.
Smith's fifth basket of the game gave Memphis a 62-61 lead with 2:40 to play, but Temple scored consecutive possessions to take a three-point lead with less than a minute to go. Brooklynn Charlo and Cori Allen both had late chances to tie the game from distance, but neither converted as the Tigers dropped ninth game of the year by two possessions or less.
Leading American Conference scorer Kaylah Turner was held to nine points on 4-of-17 shooting, but Saniyah Craig helped carry the load for the Owls with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Temple won the turnover battle 21-17, but they were especially opportunistic turning them into 22 points compared to just nine for Memphis.
The Tigers return home to take on East Carolina on Wednesday, February 25, at 7 p.m. at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
