NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — In a grinding American Athletic Conference clash defined more by defensive pressure than offensive artistry, Kaylah Turner’s game-high 27 points propelled Temple to a 67-65 overtime victory over Tulane on Saturday at Devlin Fieldhouse.

The win avenged a 13-point loss to the Green Wave just 18 days prior and pushed the Owls above .500 in league play, improving their overall record to 10-11. Tulane fell to 8-12.

The most critical sequence of the contest unfolded in the final 11 seconds of overtime. With Temple trailing 65-63, Tulane’s Shiloh Kimpson committed a foul on Turner, sending the Owls’ leading scorer to the line for two shots. Turner, who played 44 minutes, missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to cut the deficit to one.

On the ensuing inbound play, Temple’s defensive pressure forced a turnover by Tulane’s CC Mays, which Turner stole near midcourt. She quickly advanced the ball and found Jaleesa Molina cutting to the basket. The 6-foot-2 forward from the Netherlands converted the driving layup to put Temple ahead 66-65 with just five seconds remaining.

Tulane called a timeout to advance the ball but never got a final shot attempt off. A desperate inbound pass was deflected and time expired, sealing a hard-fought road win for the Owls.

The game was a testament to attrition, with both teams struggling to find consistent offense against aggressive defenses. Temple finished shooting 36.6% from the field, while Tulane managed 39.1%. The Owls’ slight advantages from three-point range, where they hit 7 of 20 compared to Tulane’s 4 of 21, and in forcing 21 Green Wave turnovers proved decisive in a contest where every possession carried weight.

Turner, a 5-foot-6 guard from Jacksonville, Florida, was the primary offensive engine for Temple, adding five assists to her 27 points. She received crucial support from Saniyah Craig, who scored 16 points and grabbed several key offensive rebounds, and Molina, who contributed nine points, three assists and relentless defensive activity.

Tulane was led by a dominant interior performance from Dyllan Hanna. The 6-foot-2 post player from St. Augustine, Florida, scored 23 points on efficient 10-of-14 shooting and controlled the glass. Amira Mabry added 17 points for the Green Wave, and Kanija Daniel facilitated the offense with eight assists while also recording three blocks.

Regulation ended tied at 57 after a back-and-forth fourth quarter. Tulane had taken a 57-54 lead on a corner three-pointer from Daniel with just three seconds left, but Temple executed perfectly out of a timeout. Turner inbounded to Craig, who scored a layup at the buzzer while being fouled. Craig missed the subsequent free throw that would have won it, sending the game to an extra period.

In overtime, Tulane scored the first four points and held a 65-61 lead after a Hanna layup with 1:52 to go. But the Owls closed the game on a 6-0 run, capped by Molina’s game-winner, to escape with the victory.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 729. Temple returns to action next Saturday at home against North Texas, while Tulane hosts Charlotte on Wednesday.