The Temple College women's basketball team's current three-game winning streak saved their season.
Overall, Temple has averaged 63.5 points per game and yielded 56.8 points per contest.
Prior to their winning streak, the Leopards averaged 56.8 points per game.
During the early part of conference, the Leopards were 1-4. Temple had a late leads Collin, was forced to dig out of a 13-point at Grayson, and led late against Hill. The Leopards lost those contests by nine, five, and seven points respectively.
At Weatherford, the Leopards were down early and never recovered as the Coyotes won by 29.
Just when it looked like the prayers were not being answered, the Leopards pulled off a shocker: an upset of No. 6 McLennan in Waco.
The Leopards had not defeated MCC since an 84-76 overtime win in Temple on Jan. 17, 2022. TC had not won in Waco since a 77-58 victory on Feb. 22, 2021.
The two keys: a 16-1 first quarter, and lockdown defense that held one of the most prolific offenses (78.1 ppg prior to the game) in the country to 50 points.
Temple followed that win up with an 86-72 win against Southwestern Christian in a make up game from the recent ice storm. The Leopards struggled early, down by 12 in the third quarter, and flipped the game with a 31-18 final quarter.
TC's 15-0 start against Cisco on Wednesday helped keep the Wranglers at bay as they led by 25 before a late push brought the game to a 15-point Temple win, 63-46.
During the streak, Temple has averaged 70 points and allowed 56.
The modus operandi? Team defense.
Defense is the Leopards' calling card, whether the shots fall or not. They are one of the better defenses in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference, and in the top 25 in a handful of defensive categories.
Heading into Wednesday's contest, the Leopards had averaged 18.2 offensive rebounds, which is second in Region V and ninth in the nation.
TC pulls down 29.7 rebounds on defense, which fourth in the region and is 11th nationally.
Their overall total of 47.9 rebounds per game is second in the region and eighth in the nation. Their +15.7 rebound differential is tenth.
Temple's 6.8 blocks per game is nearly blocks better than the region's second-leading blocker, and second nationally.
The Leopards' 14.2 steals are good for fourth place in Region V and 15th in the country.
"Defense is what we hang our hat on, whether the shots are falling or not," TC head coach Amber Taylor said.
There is no question that the final eight games will be a grind for the Leopards over the final month. After Saturday's matchup in Ranger, the Leopards have three games in ten days at Kirby Johnson Court with a road trip to Hill nestled in on Feb. 18. After the SWCC trip to Terrell on Feb. 25, they play MCC on March 4 and finish the regular season at Cisco on March 7. The Leopards have a prime opportunity to factor in the Region V North playoff run with a good start to the NTJCAC second half on Saturday.