Pirates Hold Off Temple for Program Record Sixth Road Conference Win, 79-73

Saturday, February 14

Philadelphia, PA

2:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

19-7,11-2American

Temple

10-14,4-8American

East Carolina

Temple

Pirates Hold Off Temple for Program Record Sixth Road Conference Win, 79-73

February 14, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Notes

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – It took a game-altering third quarter for the East Carolina women's basketball team to down the Temple Owls, 79-73, on Saturday afternoon in the Liacouras Center. Four Pirates scored in double-figures to propel the team to a fourth-straight win, and the 15th in the last 17 games.

Both teams got off to a hot offensive start in the game. Temple (10-14, 4-8 American) made eight of their first nine shots, not missing a single two-point attempt in the first quarter. Meanwhile, ECU (19-7, 11-2 American) put up 24 points in the opening frame, the team's most since Jan. 10 against Wichita State (26). Kennedy Fauntleroy led the team with seven points in the first while Saniyah Craig led all scorers with eight. Craig had a game-high 12 in the first half.

The two teams traded major runs in a roller-coaster of a second quarter, ECU using a 10-0 burst to go up 36-25 before Temple used an 11-0 run to tie the game at 36 going into the locker room. ECU did not score for the final 5:49 of the first half.

The Pirates had 13 steals in the first half, their most since having 16 in the opening half against USC Upstate on Nov. 9, 2023. The team finished the day with 15 steals on 24 forced turnovers, resulting in 20 points off turnovers.

East Carolina got the jump on Temple in the second half, using a 21-12 quarter to open the lead back up. The team went in front by as many as 11 in the third, thanks to a 6-0 run which was stopped only by Saniyah Craig's last-second bucket to end the period.

The fourth quarter was a matter of game control for the Pirates, leading throughout. Though, with a Fauntleroy foul out with 6:45 left and a couple of turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch, it's not to say that the game didn't get a tad stressful. Temple was able to get as close as four points in the final minutes but there was always an answer waiting for them.

A big answer down the stretch was Anzhané Hutton who knocked in four foul shots without a miss in the final minute on her way to a 13-point fourth quarter. The forward shot 4-6 from the field in the quarter, including a big and-one score with 9:02 remaining. She finished with 19 points, five rebounds, a couple of steals and assists and one block.

Hutton and Fauntleroy tied for the ECU team lead with 19 points while Fauntleroy also contributed three assists and two steals. Savannah Brooks had herself a game rebounding the ball with eight boards, including four offensive. Those offensive rebounds led to seven of the team's 13 second chance points. Not bad for a shooting guard. Brooks also scored 13 points and, along with Jayla Hearp's 14, rounded out a quartet of Pirates in double figures scoring.

Though ECU was out scored in the fourth quarter, enough work had been done in the third to earn the victory. In league play now, the team has outscored its foes by a combined 95 points while eight of their 11 wins have come either tied or trailing at the half.

Speaking of 11 wins, the Pirates are now just one game shy of tying the program record for conference wins in a season. 19 total wins are tied for eighth most in program history. More significantly today, ECU has now won six-consecutive road games in conference play, a program record which also ties the program record for overall road win streak. It is also a team record for total road conference wins.

Up Next
The Pirates return to Minges Coliseum after a 2-0 road swing to welcome in the Florida Atlantic Owls on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Of oddity note, the game is the second of a three-game swing against teams all with Owl mascots.