PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive surges and a frantic final minute, the Temple women’s basketball team secured a pivotal 86-83 victory over South Florida in an American Athletic Conference clash on Tuesday night at Liacouras Center.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1,223, saw the host Owls overcome a double-digit deficit and withstand a late rally to improve their season record to 8-10, while the Bulls fell to 12-8. The outcome defied the pregame statistical projections that heavily favored South Florida.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds with the score knotted at 83. South Florida, having fought back from an 81-76 deficit in the closing minutes, had possession with a chance to take the lead. Bulls guard Edyn Battle missed a second-chance jumper with three seconds remaining, and Temple’s Savannah Curry secured the defensive rebound. The Owls called a timeout to advance the ball.

On the ensuing inbounds play, South Florida’s Fatou Diakite was called for a foul on Temple’s Saniyah Craig, sending the Owls’ leading scorer to the line with two seconds on the clock. Craig missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second, putting Temple ahead 84-83. After a South Florida timeout, Diakite was again whistled for a foul, this time on Temple’s Kaylah Turner with just two-tenths of a second remaining. Turner, a 5-foot-6 guard from Jacksonville, Florida, drilled both free throws to seal the three-point victory.

The game’s conclusion capped a remarkable comeback by the Owls, who trailed 66-58 with under nine minutes to play. A 12-2 run, fueled by Craig and Jaleesa Molina, gave Temple a 70-68 lead midway through the fourth quarter, setting the stage for the back-and-forth finish.

The contest featured exceptional individual performances. For Temple, Kaylah Turner led all scorers with 23 points, including the decisive free throws, and added four assists. Saniyah Craig contributed 22 points and four assists, while Jaleesa Molina added 19 points. Tristen Taylor facilitated the offense with 16 points and five assists.

South Florida was paced by Carla Brito, who scored 20 points and dished out four assists. Fatou Diakite provided a major spark off the bench with 17 points and two blocks in just 18 minutes of action. L’or Mputu added 14 points, and Edyn Battle finished with 12 points and six assists. Point guard Stefanie Ingram directed the Bulls’ offense with 10 assists.

The game began at a frenetic pace, with both teams trading baskets and ending the first quarter tied at 16. South Florida seized control in the second quarter, using a 12-2 run to build a 41-30 lead. The Bulls took a 41-35 advantage into halftime, largely due to their efficiency in the paint, where they held a 38-36 edge for the game.

Temple emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, outscoring South Florida 26-25 in the third quarter to trim the deficit to five. The Owls’ defensive pressure intensified in the final period, generating key turnovers that fueled their transition game and ultimately their comeback.

The victory provides a significant boost for Temple as it navigates the conference schedule, while South Florida will look to regroup after seeing a three-game winning streak snapped. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Tampa on March 3 in the regular-season finale for both squads.

Temple next hosts Charlotte on Saturday, while South Florida travels to face Florida Atlantic on the same day.