Temple University Athletics
ISSAC POWERS TEMPLE WOMEN TO 78-50 A-10 QUARTERFINAL WIN OVER DUQUESNE
3.2.02 | Women's Basketball
With the win, Temple (18-10) advances to the semifinals for the second time in as many years under Head Coach Dawn Staley. Since becoming an A-10 member in 1983, the Owls have advanced to the conference semis just five times previously. Temple will play Massachusetts, tomorrow at 5 p.m. The other semifinal, slated for a 3 p.m. start, will feature Saint Joseph's and Xavier. The championship final is scheduled for Monday at 5:30 p.m., with all games played at the Liacouras Center on the Temple campus.
After struggling to a 10-10 tie with 12 minutes remaining in the first half, Temple mounted an 11-0 run that all but settled the issue. During the spurt, Issac connected on consecutive three-point field goals at the 11:34 and 11:21 marks and finished a break away lay-up at 10:09 to put the Owls up 21-10. A smothering full-court press by the Owls forced 19 Duquesne turnovers in the opening period. A free throw by reserve guard Melissa Eagles with 3:25 left in the period gave the Owls their biggest lead of the half at 39-17, before the Dukes closed to within 43-25 at intermission.
The second half saw more of the same, as Temple built upon the commanding lead. A steal and lay-up by Issac, who finished with a game-high 26 points in just 20 total minutes, ran the margin to 29 points at 60-31 with 10:37 remaining. A short jumper by Chrissy Cruz at the 3:39 mark gave the Owls their largest margin of the game at 71-39. Issac was the lone double-figure scorer for Temple, which also received strong performances from center Lisa Jakubowicz (9 points, 10 rebounds) and point-guard Stacey Smalls (9 points, 5 assists and 6 steals). For the game, Duquesne (14-15) was forced into 36 turnovers and limited to a lackluster 31.6 shooting percentage (12-38) by a swarming Owl defense.
