PHILADELPHIA, PA. -- In women's basketball action on Tuesday evening, the Villanova Wildcats gave a valiant effort, but came up just short in a 74-69 loss to the Temple Owls. With the setback, the Wildcats fall to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in Big Five play, while Temple improves to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in City Series action.
The Wildcats trailed 56-38 with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter, when Villanova finished the quarter on a 13-4 run to make it a 60-51 game after three. After a three-ball by freshman Brooke Mullin started the spurt, junior guard Cameron Onken scored seven straight Wildcat points. Onken's bucket on a driving lay-up at the 1:20 mark made it a 58-48 game. Temple pushed the lead back to 60-48 on a jumper by Lena Niang, before senior forward Mary Gedaka finished the third quarter scoring by connecting on a 15-foot jump shot.
Trailing 64-53 with 5:22 left to play, the Wildcats scored seven consecutive points to slice the Owl advantage to 64-60. Redshirt freshman forward Maddy Siegrist had four points on two post moves in the paint and junior guard Raven James buried a trifecta.
Temple ended a 4:12 scoreless streak when Asonah Alexander scored on a driving lay-up to put her team up six at 66-60. On the game's next possession, Villanova made it a one possession game at the 2:10 mark when Onken drained a three from the left wing. The Onken three made it a 66-63 contest.
Following four straight point Temple points, Siegrist made two free throws and the Wildcats trailed 70-65 with 1:20 remaining. After neither team was able to score over the next 56 seconds, Gedaka was fouled on a drive to the basket. Gedaka made the first free throw, but misfired on the second. However, Onken came up with the offensive rebound on the miss and kicked the ball out to Gedaka who connected on a three to make it a 70-69 lead with 20 seconds to go.
Villanova immediately fouled Marissa Mackins who made good on both free throws and Temple held a 72-69 advantage with 17 seconds remaining. The Wildcats then called timeout and advanced the ball to the front court. Villanova ran a set out of bounds play and after two passes senior forward Bridget Herlihy was open at the top of the key, but her three-point field goal attempt was off target. Temple would ice the game with two free throws by Mackins with five seconds on the clock.
In the loss, Gedaka had a game-high 20 points to go with five assists, four steals and two rebounds. Onken and Siegrist both had double-doubles with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Onken also added five assists and a steal. Freshman Brooke Mullin added eight points off the bench.
Temple was paced by Alexander with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Mia Davis who tallied 16 points and 11 caroms.
For the game, Villanova was 26-of-69 from the field (37.7%), 12-of-37 from three-point range (32.4%) and 5-of-9 from the foul line (55.6%), while the Owls shot 41.7 percent from the floor (25-of-60), 52.9 percent from behind the arc (9-of-17) and 93.8 percent from the charity stripe (15-of-16). Temple owned a 47-34 advantage on the backboards. Villanova was charged with just eight turnovers.
Villanova will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 21, when the Wildcats travel to La Salle. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m.
NOTES: Sam Carangi and Kenzie Gardler missed a second straight game due to injury/illness…Mary Gedaka played 40 minutes for a second consecutive game…The Wildcats fall to 120-40 (.754) all-time in Big 5 play…Maddy Siegrist has scored double figures in eight of the nine games this season...Tonight was Mary Gedaka's 14th career 20-point game…The 17 points scored by Cameron Onken represents a career-high…Mary Gedaka was credited with a career-best four steals.
