TEMPLE WOMEN BEAT RICHMOND

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple women's basketball team (12-8, 7-2) proved it does not have arachnophobia by posting a 69-63 victory over the Richmond Spiders (10-13, 4-6) on February 3. The game was a test of wills between the A-10's top scoring team (Richmond) and one of the best defensive teams in the conference (Temple). The hot shooting Spiders jumped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game before the Owls clawed back and held a 34-29 advantage at the break. In the second half Temple pushed the lead to as many as 13 points but Richmond made a game of it with a 12-0 run and held a 57-56 edge with just over five minutes remaining. Down the stretch, the Owls regained control of the game from the free throw line where they shot 9-10 to Richmond's 4-6.

"It was our strength versus their strength," said Temple coach Dawn Staley. "Our strength is defensive pressure and their strength is scoring and looking at the amount of points we gave up, our strength prevailed. If we let them score their average, we lose the game," she continued.

Senior forward Athena Christoforakis led Temple with 24 points and 17 rebounds, both game-highs. Christoforakis shot 11-13 (85 percent) from the field and had a game-high four steals. Fellow senior Natalia Isaac (15) was the only other Owl in double figures. Toni Belafonte and Lisa Jakubowicz added nine points apiece for Temple.

Ebony Tanner led Richmond with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Amber Goppert (14), Michele Koclanes (11), Kate Flavin (10 points, 10 rebounds) were the other key contributors for the Spiders.

Next up for the Owls a Big 5 city series showdown with Saint Joseph's for sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 East on Tuesday, February 5. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.

Temple University Athletics

TEMPLE WOMEN BEAT RICHMOND

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