NR/RV USF, Temple and NR/RV Tulane improved to 1-0 in league action as conference play continued across The American on Sunday.
NR/RV USF 69, East Carolina 62
Courtney Williams led five Bulls in double figures with a game-high 18 points and six assists as NR/RV USF started American Athletic Conference play with a 69-62 win over East Carolina Sunday afternoon at the Sun Dome.
USF (10-3) was picked to finish second in the conference, just in front of East Carolina (9-3), which had won three straight heading into the seventh meeting between the programs. Williams scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half to help the Bulls extend their winning streak to four. Alisia Jenkins posted her ninth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds, falling just shy of a triple-double with eight blocks. Her eight swats were one short of the single-game program record. Jada Payne and Jasmine Phillips each scored 14 points apiece for the Pirates.
Temple 58, Memphis 57
Feyonda Fitzgerald scored five of her 14 points in the final 2:51 of the game to help Temple (5-8, 1-0) upend host Memphis (6-6, 0-1) in American Athletic Conference play Sunday night in a nationally televised contest on ESPNU. The Owls topped the Tigers 58-57 at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Temple rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit and took the lead on a pair of Fitzgerald free-throws with 2:50 left to play in regulation. Erica Covile gave the Owls their largest lead of the game after connecting on a 3-pointer to go up 55-51 with 30 seconds to play. Brianna Wright paced Memphis with 18 points and 14 rebounds, her third double-double of the season. Tyonna Williams had a team-high 16 points for Temple, including a pair of free throws down the stretch to help seal the victory for the Owls. Erica Covile added her second-straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
NR/RV Tulane 60, Cincinnati 50
NR/RV Tulane made its American Athletic Conference league debut with a 60-50 win at Cincinnati (3-9, 0-1) Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. The Green Wave moved to 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the victory.
Leslie Vorpahl finished with a team high 18 points for Tulane on 7-for-12 shooting from the field. The sophomore guard also tallied three assists and two steals. Tiffany Dale added her first double-double of the season with a 10-point, 14-rebound performance. The Bearcats were paced by 16 points and eight rebounds by freshman Ana Owens.