BRYAN, TX – After a cold start on the road Tuesday evening, the Temple Tem-Cat freshman basketball team found their rhythm in a massive way, exploding for 37 second-half points to secure a convincing 57-21 victory over the Bryan Lady Vikings.
Slow Start, Strong Finish
The contest didn’t begin with the usual Tem-Cat spark. Temple struggled with their shooting early, missing their first eight attempts from the floor. However, they found their stroke late in the first quarter, knocking down five consecutive shots to take an 11-6 lead.
The offensive droughts returned in the second frame, but the Tem-Cat defense remained stout, holding Bryan to just five points and entering the locker room with a 20-11 advantage.
The Second Half Explosion
Whatever was said in the locker room worked. Temple emerged for the third quarter playing at a different speed. The offense erupted for 20 points in the period, fueled by a barrage of four 3-pointers.
The momentum carried into the final eight minutes, where the Tem-Cats buried three more shots from beyond the arc and closed the game on a 17-4 run.
"Tonight we came out and looked slow and lethargic," said Coach Taylor Sims. "Whether it was the long ride to Bryan or just the fact it was our second time playing them, we looked as though we were just going through the motions. So, at halftime, I challenged them to pick up the intensity, the defensive pressure, and play with a sense of urgency. Man, did they respond! I could not be more proud of this group of young ladies and their efforts to be successful."
Box Score Breakdown
Kyleigh Juarez led the charge for Temple, finishing with a game-high 17 points. Hayden Williams also reached double figures with 10, providing a consistent scoring threat throughout the night.
Here is the scoring breakdown for the Tem-Cats’ dominant win over the Bryan Lady Vikings:
Kyleigh Juarez: 17 points
Hayden Williams: 10 points
Cristina Garza: 7 points
Catherine Dunklin: 6 points
Saniya Blunson: 4 points
Ma'Kayla Pendleton: 4 points
Lyla Shamlin: 4 points
Kimberly Serrano: 2 points
Deonnie Jones: 2 points
Sha'Kyhria Freeman: 1 point
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Tem-Cats improve their impressive season record to 16-4 overall and move to 5-2 in District 12-6A play.
The freshman squad will return home to Temple on Tuesday, January 27, to host the Copperas Cove Lady Bulldogs. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
