AAC Preview: Get to Know the Players and Coaches Who Will Lead the League This Season
Temple Must Overcome Loss of Star Alliya Butts
The Owl’s season ended last year with a one-point loss to Oregon in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Alliya Butts scored 28 points in that game and was expected to be a top star in the league this season. She was named a member of the AAC Preseason All-Conference Second Team. However, an unfortunate ACL injury will keep her off the court for the season. One of the team’s big challenges will be to replace her on-court productivity. At the AAC Media Day, Temple Head Coach Tonya Cardoza and senior guard Tanaya Atkinson were asked about overcoming the loss and how the team would move forward:
Players to Watch
Tanaya Atkinson — Guard, Senior, 2017 American Athletic Conference Sixth Player of the Year, 17th in scoring, 5th in rebounding, 1st in offensive rebounds and 10th in field-goal percentage in the league last season
Khadijah Berger — Guard, Senior, appeared in all 32 games for the Owls, making six starts, averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game
Mia Davis — Forward, Freshman, played in 31 games with 19 starts, averaging 17.5 minutes…Shot a team-high 52.0 percent from the field
First Regular Season Game: November 10 versus Delaware State