Temple Routs Navy 97-77 in Home Opener
Temple women's basketball forced 33 Navy turnovers and built a lead as large as 32 points in its 2026-27 home opener.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Basketball
Temple women's basketball defeated Navy 97-77 on Saturday afternoon at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia in its 2026-27 home opener. The win improved Temple to 1-1 on the season.
Why it matters
The result gives Temple its first home win of the season and shows its pressure defense can generate both turnovers and points. The margin reflects a balanced scoring attack across the roster.
Temple forced 33 Navy turnovers and converted them into 43 points, while Shayla Smith led all scorers with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and five steals. The team's lead reached 32 points at its largest margin.
The players
Temple Owls women's basketball
The women's basketball program of Temple University, a Philadelphia-based Atlantic 10 Conference team competing in NCAA Division I.
Navy Midshipmen women's basketball
The women's basketball program of the United States Naval Academy, which competes in the Patriot League in NCAA Division I.
The details
Temple used relentless defensive pressure and a balanced scoring effort to pull away from Navy. Kaylah Turner added 19 points and three assists, Taliyah Logwood scored 15 points with five steals, and Ariana Meriedy contributed 12 points and three rebounds.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Temple defeats Navy 97-77 at the Liacouras Center.
Season Trajectory
Temple's 97-77 win over Navy moves the program to 1-1 after its opening stretch of the 2026-27 season. The result sets an early tone for a team that relied on defensive turnovers to build a large margin.
Temple's 33 forced turnovers and 43 points off them are the statistical story to watch for fans tracking the team's defensive identity. Shayla Smith's stat line of 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and five steals offers a benchmark for fantasy and roster evaluation.
The takeaway
Temple's defensive pressure produced most of its margin, showing that forcing turnovers can turn a game quickly. Teams can watch turnover margin closely early in a season.
Further reading
For more on college hoops around the city, check the Basketball section.
