Temple’s returning trio and deep bench bring ‘confidence and cohesiveness’ to a new season

Temple has seen the same story unfold in the last two women’s basketball seasons. The Owls won 20 games during the regular season in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and advanced to their conference tournament semifinals both times.

However, both appearances resulted in a loss to Rice, putting a sour end to strong seasons.

Entering this season, coach Diane Richardson and her squad hope to break through. The Owls’ season opens Monday at home against George Mason in their first chance to showcase their new roster and motivation to win.

“I’m feeling really good, and credit to my staff for going out and getting us pieces that we needed,” Richardson said. “We needed rebounders, and we’ve got rebounders coming in. We’ve got an inside-out game now because we’ve got the same amount of post players as we do guards.”

Temple lost four important players to graduation in guards Tiarra East and Tarriyonna Gary and forwards Amaya Oliver and Anissa Rivera. However, the Owls have three returning key contributors who are now captains: forward Jaleesa Molina and guards Tristen Taylor and Kaylah Turner.

All three experienced losing to Rice, and they are ready to push Temple past that point.

“They understand that we don’t want to put in all that work to get there and get stopped in the semifinals again,” Richardson said. “Their leadership has started from the day we left that game where we don’t want to have this feeling again. They’ve been stepping up and talking to the new people and the younger players about us winning together.”

Molina and Taylor are the most experienced players on a team without seniors. They are the longest-tenured Owls, having played key roles since their freshman year.

Molina grew into a significant frontcourt player for Temple last season. She averaged 7.5 points and seven rebounds, and elevated her game in conference play. She was the 10th-leading rebounder in the conference and recorded seven double-doubles against conference opponents.

Taylor returns as one of the top facilitators in the American Conference after leading the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio last season. She led Temple in assists per game but is looking to take on more of a scoring role after averaging 6.7 points last season.

“I know I was high on the assist charts for national and stuff, but I want to be a scorer, so they don’t just look at me to facilitate,” Taylor said.
“So they’ll be worried about me as well.”

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Turner came off the bench for Temple last season after transferring in from Alabama A&M and found her role quickly. She was a scoring spark off the bench, averaging 9.9 points and was named conference Sixth Player of the Year. Turner was named to the preseason all-American Conference first team.

Richardson believes Turner is ready for the spotlight.

“I think she has a good chance of being player of the year,” Richardson said.
“You see it in practice where she’s very confident in her shot. She’s quick, defends well, and does everything. She’s a three-level scorer and also a captain and a leader. Any time you ask her for more, she gives you more.”

Temple’s depth was not one of its strengths last season, but Richardson prioritized it in the offseason. She wants her team to play fast on offense and tough on defense and now believes she has the proper depth to fully execute her vision.

The coach looked to the transfer portal and incoming freshmen to complement the returning players.

Forward Felicia Jacobs returns after playing well as a backup last season, and a trio of newcomers will join her. Saniyah Craig comes in from Jacksonville where she was the leading rebounder in the Atlantic Sun Conference with 11.4 per game.

Khloe Miller joined through the transfer portal after redshirting at East Carolina, and Richardson added freshman Anastasia Bulanova from Russia.

Temple’s guard depth is equally impressive behind Turner and Taylor. Richardson added Brianna Mead, another small but quick guard who can shoot, from the Long Island University via the transfer portal. Richardson wants to see her team improve its shooting and hopes Mead can help along with returners Savannah Curry, Kelian Cedano, and Drew Alexander.

“I think it’s just good for other teams to have to worry about more than just two or three people,” Taylor said. “Having to worry about a whole team is really just going to make other teams be like, ‘Dang, we got to play Temple this week. We have to worry about everybody and not just one or two people.’”

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With a retooled roster, Richardson is happy with where her team stands.

“I’m excited that we have depth and I’m excited about the way they play together,” Richardson said. “They play off of each other and they all want the same thing. You see them pushing each other in practice and talking to each other in practice.

“If one gets down, then there’s somebody there to talk them up and give them confidence. So I think the biggest thing we have going for us right now is confidence and cohesiveness.”