Temple University Athletics
Isaac Lifts Temple Women To Victory In Overtime Thriller
2.24.01 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 24) - As season finales go, this was literally one for the record books. The Temple women's basketball team (18-9, 11-5) beat UMass (11-15, 6-9) 72-69 in overtime before the largest crowd (2,263) ever to witness a women's basketball game in Temple history. Fittingly, the game was one of epic proportions, record setting performances and thrilling basketball - Staley style.
Temple was led in scoring by senior guard Natalia Isaac with a Liacouras Center record 38 points. Isaac shot an unconscious 8-11 from three point range and her 38 point effort ties her for third on Temple's all-time single game scoring list. Junior forward Athena Christoforakis (14) was the only other Owl to score in double figures. Junior center Lisa Jakubowicz led the Owls in rebounding with a game-high 11 boards. Christoforakis also had double-digit rebounds with 10 to record her sixth double-double of the season.
Kathy Coyner led Massachusetts in scoring with 16 points. Amber Sneed (11) and Jennifer Butler (11) also scored in double figures for the Minutewomen. Butler added 10 rebounds to record a double-double.
UMass led for nearly the entire game as Temple grabbed its first lead of the game from the Minutewomen in the final minute. With 59 seconds remaining in regulation, 55-54 and when time elapsed in regulation the teams stood tied at 57. Temple led throughout most of the overtime but UMass hung tough and tied the game at 66 with one minute remaining in the extra session. The Minutewomen tied the game again with nine seconds remaining but that was just enough time for the Isaac to add the icing to her historic performance and hit a three-pointer to wrap it up for the Owls.
For coach Staley who had Olympic teammates Teresa Edwards, DeLisha Milton and Katie Smith on hand for support, the final frenetic moments of the game were totally in the hands of the players. "Sometimes coaching is overrated," Staley said. "You have to let the players play and take their opportunities to win the game, this was one of those times" she added.
Temple will next play on Saturday, March 3rd at 6:00 p.m. in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Championship. The Owls have earned a bye with their third place conference finish and will await the winner of the game between the #6 and #11 seeds played on Friday, March 2. Tomorrow, the Gold Medal Olympians and the Temple women's team will host a developmental clinic at McGonigle Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The cost of the clinic is $50.00 and registration begins at 8:00 a.m.
