Temple University Athletics
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: COMEBACK ATTEMPT FALLS SHORT AS OWLS FALL TO SAINT JOSEPH'S
1.26.03 | Women's Basketball
Stacey Smalls' 16 points led the Owls. Junior Christena Hamilton added 14 points and six rebounds. Hamilton also picked off a season-high four steals.
Saint Joseph's center Irina Krasnoshiok led all scorers with 21 points, including 18 in the first half with Temple's Candice Dupree on the bench with two fouls. Amra Mehmedic contributed 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds in the victorious effort.
The Owls jumped off to a 10-3 lead less than three minutes into the contest. The game would stay close until Krasnoshiok ignited a 15-2 Saint Joseph's run to build a 28-18 lead at the 3:27 mark of the first stanza. Temple's drought included a stretch of almost 10 minutes in which the Owls did not convert on a single field goal attempt. A Smalls basket 35 seconds before halftime was Temple's first basket since the 10:27 mark.
The Owls chipped away at the Hawk lead until the score was knotted, 35-35, with 8:40 remaining. Temple never regained the lead, but remained within five points of the Hawks for the remainder of the contest. Hamilton cut the Hawk lead to 48-47 on a jumper from the corner with 30 seconds to play. After a Saint Joseph's free throw, Smalls missed a running jumper and Hamilton could not convert on the putback as the final horn sounded.
Saint Joseph's held the rebounding advantage, 39-30. The Owls were not successful on any of their five three-point field goal attempts.
Up next for Temple is a 7:00 pm game at the University of Richmond on January 30. The Owls return to the Liacouras Center when they host St. Bonaventure on February 2.
