PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Kaylah Turner scored 29 points and dished out six assists to lead Temple to an 88-63 victory over VCU in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at Liacouras Center.

The Owls used a dominant second quarter to seize control, outscoring the Rams 25-12 in the period to turn a three-point lead into a 42-26 halftime advantage. Temple never looked back, extending its lead to as many as 29 points in the second half before settling for the 25-point margin.

Turner, a 5-foot-6 guard from Jacksonville, Florida, was the catalyst throughout. She hit four 3-pointers and went a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, adding two steals in 31 minutes. Her performance set the tone for a Temple offense that operated with high efficiency, scoring 88 points on just 84 possessions for an offensive rating of 104.2.

Savannah Curry supported Turner with 16 points, while Jaleesa Molina filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six assists, two blocks and two steals. Brianna Mead also chipped in 11 points off the bench for the Owls.

VCU was led by Katarina Knezevic, who scored a team-high 21 points and blocked a shot. Daija Preston added 13 points and six assists, and Makennah White contributed 13 points off the bench. The Rams struggled with ball security, committing 25 turnovers which Temple converted into 27 points off turnovers.

The game’s decisive stretch began late in the first quarter and carried through the second. With Temple leading 17-14, the Owls closed the opening period on a 6-0 run, capped by a Makennah White 3-pointer for VCU just before the buzzer. Temple then opened the second quarter with a 9-2 burst, fueled by 3-pointers from Turner and Molina, to push the lead to 26-16.

After a Knezevic 3-pointer briefly halted the run, Temple answered with another 9-2 spurt. Turner was at the heart of it, assisting on a Drew Alexander 3-pointer and then hitting one of her own to extend the lead to 35-21. The Owls’ defense forced eight VCU turnovers in the quarter, consistently generating transition opportunities and open looks. By halftime, Temple had built a 16-point cushion, and VCU would not get closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

The Owls shot 52.7% from the field for the game, including 48% from 3-point range, making 12 of 25 attempts. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, hitting 18 of 22. VCU, by contrast, shot 39.3% overall and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Rams did hold a 38-31 rebounding edge, including 11 offensive boards, but were undone by their shooting and turnover woes.

With the win, Temple evened its season record at 5-5. The Owls snapped a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Drexel and Michigan State in their previous two outings. VCU dropped to 3-7 with its fourth consecutive loss. The Rams have not won since a Nov. 17 victory over Howard.

An announced crowd of 1,393 watched the game at the 10,200-seat Liacouras Center.

Temple is scheduled to host Coppin State next Friday. VCU returns home to face American on Tuesday.