The Temple women’s basketball team was all smiles after defeating Villanova 76-62 to secure the first-ever Women’s Big 5 Classic championship on Friday night at the Finneran Pavilion. Formerly, the Big 5 champion was determined based on the best record against other Big 5 teams. Owls senior guard Tiarra East was named the inaugural Mel Greenberg MVP after leading the team with a game-high 26 points. Tristen Taylor (15 points), Tarriyonna Gary (14 points) and Kaylah Turner (10 points) each scored in double digits to help lead the Owls.   

“This win is up top for us because Villanova has always been a battle for us the past four years that I’ve been here and since coach Rich got here,” East said in a postgame interview with owlsports.com. “We wanted this win. We dug deep and stuck together and came out with a team win. Being in the heart of Philadelphia and bringing it back there was important because that’s what we wanted and worked for.” 

The victory is the first time the Temple program won the Big 5 championship outright since 2011. Temple’s last Big 5 title was shared with Villanova, tying for the best record (3-1) against Big 5 teams in 2018–2019. It was the first Big 5 title for third-year Head Coach Diane Richardson.  

This year, Big 5 women’s basketball implemented a six-team round-robin format to determine the Big 5 champion during a same-day triple-header. Temple had wins against LaSalle and Drexel to set up Friday’s championship showdown against Villanova, who had defeated St. Joseph’s and the University of Pennsylvania. 

The Owls trailed at halftime of the Big 5 title game before they went on a scoring surge with a 14-2 run in the third quarter led by Taylor’s 8 points.  

Gary knocked down a 3-point shot to give the Owls a 10-point lead with 5:55 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Then East joined the 3-point shooting party, draining back-to-back threes for the dagger that put Temple up 70-56.   

East scored 11 unanswered points in the fourth and Gary collected the final rebound for the Owls as the final seconds ticked away and the horn sounded. Temple had completed its victory over tournament host Villanova and the celebration began.  

The women’s basketball team, proudly representing the cherry and white, rushed to the center court along with Hooter the Owl, who made the trip to Villanova’s campus and shared the final dance. Temple’s sophomore forward, Jaleesa Molina, elevated the large red, white and blue Big 5 championship placard triumphantly above her head. 

“A great tournament, a great classic, the first of many that I know are going to be really great for the city,” Richardson said in a postgame interview with owlsports.com. “It was a hard-fought game, we played hard and came up with the win. Our ladies stuck to the scout [report] and we got a victory, Temple basketball.” 

“To win the first Big 5 Classic is precious and we wanted to represent Temple,” she added. “We played together, and we talked about that before the game and this feels special.”  

The Owls’ next game is at home against No. 15 ranked West Virginia at the Liacouras Center.  

Read the full game recap story with postgame press conference.