The American Athletic Conference went 0-2 in Monday action versus stiff competition. Both losses were against a pair of teams ranked or receiving votes in the national polls.

Temple dropped an 82-76 decision to No. 23 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome. Freshman Feyonda Fitzgerald had a career-high 28 points in the loss and led four Owls in double-figure scoring. Natasha Thames and Erica Covile chipped in 12 points each while Rateska Brown had 10. Thames added a game-high 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Temple out rebounded Syracuse 46-40. The Owls shot 47 percent from the field (15-32) in the second half while holding SU to 30 percent (13-43).

UCF fell to 7-3 on the year with a 63-51 loss to Middle Tennessee. A strong second half allowed the Blue Raiders to go on a 13-1 run and escape Orlando with their sixth victory in a row. It marked the first time this season that UCF dropped a home contest and posted consecutive losses.

Briahanna Jackson had 16 points and a game-high six steals for the Knights while Sara Djassi added 13 points. Djassi has scored in double-figures for five consecutive games.

Three American Athletic Conference teams are in action Tuesday highlighted by a nationally televised matchup between No. 1/1 UConn and No. 2/2 Duke. The Huskies  and the Blue Devils face off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 in the annual Jimmy V Classic.

No. 7/7 Louisville faces Ball State in Muncie, Ind. while Cincinnati hosts local foe Akron at 7 p.m. eastern.