Natasha Thames and Shi-Heria Shipp had career nights as Temple defeated Howard 83-58 Wednesday evening at McGonigle Hall.

Thames scored a game-high 24 points and shot 9-for-10 from the field. Shipp added 22 points and Erica Covile chipped in with 11.

The Owls held a 41-28 advantage in rebounds and shot 50 percent from the field (31-for-62) while holding Howard to 37 percent shooting (22-for-57).

Temple hosts Villanova in Philadelphia Big 5 action on Sunday in their final non-conference game of the season.

Ten games highlight the weekend schedule before conference action tips off on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Houston concludes their season-long three-game road swing on Friday, Dec. 20 traveling to cross-town rival Rice. Memphis hosts SWAC foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the other league matchup on Friday.

Six teams take the court on Saturday, Dec. 21 beginning with a Noon ET contest between USF and College of Charleston.

No. 7/7 Louisville hosts No. 11/15 Colorado, the Cardinals’ third ranked opponent of the season, at 1 p.m. eastern and Rutgers welcomes No. 16/15 Georgia to the RAC at 2 p.m. ET. UCF hosts Iona while Cincinnati and SMU travel to in-state rivals for matchups against Xavier and North Texas, respectively.  

No. 1/1 UConn faces No. 21/20 California in the Maggie Dixon Classic on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Madison Square Garden in a nationally televised contest (1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Huskies return to the World’s Most Famous Arena after a two year absence from the Classic.