The Guru NCAAW Report: Temple Tops Villanova for Big 5 Classic Title; Saint Joseph’s beats Drexel for Third; Penn Takes Fifth Over La Salle

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

VILLANOVA, Pa. – After two successive seasons in which Villanova star scorers Maddy Siegrist and Lucy Olsen lit up Temple in the previous long-running City Series format, the Owls finally had their night Friday on the Wildcats here on the Main Line exploding in the second half for a 76-62 victory in the championship of the new Big 5 Classic championship contest at Finneran Pavilion.

Tiarra East, voted by the media the MVP, led the way for Temple (5-3) with 26 points, shooting 10-18 from the field, including 2-3 from deep, with five boards while Tristen Taylor was 5-7 for 15 points, Tarriyonna Gary scored 14, and Kaylah Turner was 5-8 for 10 points.

Villanova (5-4) got 19 points and seven rebounds from Jasmine Bascoe, the ‘Cats sensational Canadian import, while Maddie Webber scored 12, and Lara Edmanson scored 11.

Long-range shooting, a skill owned traditionally by the home team, was more adept from Diane Richardson’s group, going 6-12 while the ‘Cats were a mediocre 3-20.

An 11-0 run in the third quarter turned the momentum in the Owls’ direction after trailing 34-30 at the half.

“Just being here these two years, I’ve realized that this is a big deal and it’s big for women’s basketball, especially this year, when we have so much exposure,” said Richardson, who is in her third season. “It makes me feel good as a coach to understand we are finally getting it.’

Villanova looked like it might be delivering more of the same jumping to a 9-0 lead until the Owls began to fight their way back.

“I was surprised by our lack of intensity and sense of urgency that needs to happen in a game like this or any game,” said Villanova coach Denise Dillon. “Temple came to win a championship, and you could see it.”

East impressed the crowd with two right-on-the-mark shots from way beyond the arc in the fourth quarter that virtually put the outcome in Temple’s hands.

“I believed in myself (the coaches) believed in me, I let it go,” she said.

“That was really a big thing for me. ‘Coach has been instilling confidence in me.”

Asked to critique East’s performance,” Richardson smiled and said, “phenomenal.”

 The men, who are playing their ‘Classic Saturday afternoon and night at the Wells Fargo Center, started the new format last year, changing from the round-robin.

Part of the arrangement was finally making Drexel part of the mix, and the six schools separated into two three-team groups to rotate.

On one side Villanova blitzed Penn and, surprisingly last Sunday, Saint Joseph’s at Hagan Arena, while the Hawks also handled Penn.

On the other, Drexel made its debut on the women’s division, winning easily over La Salle but then losing at Temple.

The Owls then struggled down to the wire until emerging at La Salle to clinch a spot in the championship.

The day’s activity began with Penn (7-3) taking fifth place beating La Salle 74-63 as Mike McLaughlin won his 250th game in charge of the Quakers.

The Explorers (5-5) jumped to a 9-1 lead through the first quarter before Penn rallied and then went ahead with a 19-12 third quarter.

Freshman Sarah Miller had a career-high 21points, Stina Almqvist had 18 points and 11 boards while freshman Katie Collins had 12points and 11 boards, and Mataya Gayle scored 11 points.

La Salle’s Ashleigh Connor scored 13 points, Aryss Macktoon scored 12, and Anna Przyszlak scored 10.

The middle game saw Saint Joseph’s (6-2) beat Drexel 69-47 for third place as Mackenzie Smith was 10-17 and 3-5 from deep for 23 points, Laura Ziegler scored 17 and was also 3-5 long range, while Gabby Casey scored 11, and Talya Bruglar scored 10 with nine assists.

Drexel (3-4) got 16 points from Amaris Baker, while Deja Evans scored 12.

La Salle coach Mountain McGillivray speaking on the quality of local competition, noted, “when we came here today, every team took the floor with a winning record.”

As to what’s next as the six schools get into the rest of the season, besides finals on the horizon,” Saint Joseph’s hosts Maine Monday at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) while Villanova on a short turnaround goes to Fairfield Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).

Both opponents won their conference titles.

Drexel is at Florida State next Sunday at 2 p.m. (ACCNX), while Penn is off two weeks before hosting Delaware State on Dec. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at The Palestra (ESPN+).

Temple is off until next Sunday hosting No. 15 West Virginia at 2 p.m. (ESPN+) while La Salle hosts Chestnut Hill Friday at 6 p.m. (ESPN+).

Princeton Downed by Portland

In the only other game of consequence on Friday, local and national, Princeton lost 74-55 at Portland 74-55 as Emme Shearer scored 19 points for the Pilots (9-0), who won the West Coast tourney last year.

Maisie Burnham scored 18, while Alexis Mark and reserve Lainey Spear each scored 11 points.

Princeton (5-3) got 12 points from Skye Belker and reserve Tabitha Amanze scored 10.

Looking Ahead

On Saturday, Penn State hosts Indiana in a Big Ten opener at 1 p.m. and Delaware hosts Delaware State at 2 p.m. (FloSports) at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Nationally, in Brooklyn on FOX at the Barclays Center Tennessee plays Iowaat 7 p.m., followed by No. 2 Connecticut playing No. 22 Louisville at 9 p.m.

 In two Big Ten openers, No. 7 Maryland is at Purdue at 2 p.m. and strange as it sounds No. 6 Southern Cal is at Oregon at 4 p.m.