Temple University Athletics
LAST SECOND JUMPER DOOMS TEMPLE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, 54-53, AT OLE MISS
1.3.03 | Women's Basketball
Trailing by double-digits with 4:29 remaining, the Lady Rebels finished the game on a 13-2 run, highlighted by two steals and four points by Genice Terry. Following a pair of Terry free throws with 57 seconds remaining, Mississippi guard Ashley Johnson stole the inbounds pass and converted it into a layup, narrowing the gap to 53-52. An Owl missed shot led to the eventual game-winner by Watson.
The Lady Rebels led by six early in the first half, taking a 17-11 lead with 9:36 remaining in the opening stanza. Temple then picked up its defensive intensity and held Ole Miss to just one basket the rest of the half in taking a 23-19 lead into intermission.
The Owls maintained a six-point lead four minutes into the second half before Terry fed Leah Henley for a three-point basket and then scored a lay-up and a free throw herself to tie the game at 30-30. Temple's Stacey Smalls (Cheltenham, PA./Cheltenham) then went on a 10-0 run of her own, notching two free throws, two three-pointers and a short jump shot to give the Owls a 40-30 lead with 8:23 left in the contest.
The two teams battled back and forth over the next four minutes before Ole Miss ripped off its game-winning run.
For Temple, Stacey Smalls led Owl scorers with 17 points while Ari Moore (Shaker Heights, Regina) chipped in with 12 points. Chrissy Cruz (Philadelphia, Pa./Southern), Candice Dupree (Tampa, Fl./Wharton) and Khadija Bowens (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) each added six points for the Owls who next travel over to City Line Avenue for an Atlantic 10 matchup on Sunday against Saint Joseph's. Tipoff the Atlantic 10 Conference battle is set for 12 Noon.
