Temple University Athletics
Temple Women's Basketball Quiets the Red Storm, 75-70
12.30.99 | Women's Basketball
Miami, Fla. - The Temple women's basketball team beat St. John's, 75-70, tonight, in the consolation game of the Florida International Fun and Sun Classic.
The Owls were led by sophomore Melissa Eagles who scored a career-high 20 points. Freshman Stacey Smalls scored 13 points and added a career-high eight assists.
The Owls got off to a fast start in the contest by going on a 16-4 scoring run to start the game. The Owls' defense was stifling at the outset of the ballgame as the Owls had four steals and forced nine Red Storm turnovers in the first 8:44 of the game. In that same span, Temple allowed St. John's to score only one field goal.
St. John's would cut the lead to 23-17 with 3:49 remaining in the first half thanks to the hot shooting of Tanya Mrdjen who scored six quick points. However, senior Nicole Chaszar would answer with a three-pointer to help the Owls take a 32-21 halftime lead.
The start of the second half was the "Melissa Eagles' Show" as the 5-8 forward scored the Owls' first 10 points of the second stanza. Eagles helped Temple build a 20-point lead with 14:31 left in the game. However, the Red Storm would not quietly as they mounted a 24-12 scoring run to cut the Temple lead to 58-50 with 7:05 remaining. In the following 5:31, Taynisha Myles and Giani Bowles combined to score 13 points and help St. John's cut the Temple lead to one, at 67-66, with 1:24 remaining. However, the Red Storm would get no closer as the Owls made 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to put St. John's away, 75-70.
Temple made a season-high 25 free throws on 31 attempts. The Owls' defense had 12 steals and forced 22 Red Storm turnovers. St. John's held a 37-34 rebounding edge over the Owls.
Junior Ieesha Turnage scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Chaszar also reached double-figures by scoring 10 points. Kim Martin and Lisa Jakubowicz each added eight points in the victory.
With the win, Temple improves to 5-6 on the season. St. John's drops to 5-6. The Owls will next play at Miami (Fla.) on Jan. 2 at 2:00 p.m.
