Temple University Athletics
Owls Fall Prey to Commodores
1.2.01 | Women's Basketball
Nashville, Tenn. - The Temple women's basketball team (7-3) faced its most formidable opponent of the season in No. 23/22 Vanderbilt (10-2) and came away with a loss 70-51.
The Commodores proved too tough inside for the Owls as they outrebounded Temple 36-23 and held a 44-20 advantage in points in the paint. Vanderbilt also held the shooting percentage edge 55.8 percent to 40.7 percent. Despite the loss, Temple earned the respect of their nationally ranked opponent.
"They're a hard-nosed basketball team. They play very hard, they compete, I thought they had a lot of energy. I enjoyed the way they played. They play the way they have to play," said Vanderbilt head coach and Temple alum, Jim Foster about the Owls. Temple forced 17 turnovers and won the steals battle nine to four as the Cherry and White continued its defensive intensity throughout the game.
Offensively the Owls ran into a great shooting team and had few answers for them. Junior Athena Christoforakis led Temple with 18 points and was the only Owl to post double digits in the scoring column. Freshman Chistena Hamilton added nine points for the visitors.
Jillian Danker led Vanderbilt with a game-high 26 points off the bench on 12-16 shooting. Zuzana Klimesova (13 ) and Chantelle Anderson (14) also recorded double figure scoring nights for the home team.
More road work is ahead for the Owls as they face St. Bonaventure in their first Atlantic 10 Conference game of the season (Jan. 15 at 7:00 p.m.).
