Champ Central
Box Score
Notes
East Carolina Quotes
Temple Quotes
Highlights
Photo Gallery
East Carolina Press Conference
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – No. 5 seed East Carolina opened the game on a 16-2 run and held off a spirited comeback attempt in a 77-71 win over No. 4 seed Temple in the first quarterfinal game of the 2015 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Junior Jada Payne had a game-high 22 points for the Pirates, while junior I’Tiana Taylor posted her eighth double-double of the year with an 11-point, 11-rebound effort. Junior Jasmine Phillips (15 points) and senior Abria Trice (13) were also in double figures in scoring for the Pirates, who improved to 21-9 on the year with the victory.
The Pirates led by as much as 15 in the first half and 18 in the second half with 8:58 remaining on a basket by Trice. The Owls would then rattle off a 10-0 run sparked by five points from junior Erica Covile to cut the deficit to 62-54 with 6:28 to play.
Temple would pull to within five at 72-67 on a Covile basket with 55 seconds to play before the Pirates closed out the game at the final six-point margin.
Covile led the Owls with 19 points, while senior Tyonna Williams added 16 and sophomore Feyonda Fitzgerald chipped in 13.
The Pirates hit seven 3-pointers in the contest and never trailed. Temple was 22-of-28 from the free-throw line.
The Pirates advance to face No. 1 seed UConn in the first semifinal game Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU.