PHILADELPHIA--Junior Candice Dupree netted a game-high 12 points to lead Temple to its third victory of the season, a 72-42 win over Morgan State on Wednesday night at the Liacouras Center. The Owls improve to 3-2, 4-0 all-time against Morgan State, while the Lady Bearcats fall to 0-4 on the season. The Owl defense held Morgan State to just 26% shooting from the field and forced 32 turnovers.
Morgan State actually led for the first 13 minutes of the game, as it jumped out to a 10-3 lead at the 13:21 mark. Junior Stephanie Hicks was the first to get the Owls on the board, as she tallied all of Temple's three points in the first four minutes. Morgan State continued to build a lead, but the Owls continued to fight, chipping away at the Lady Bearcats tally. Freshman Candice Borrows, who went three-of-five from the three-point line, hit a trey with nine minutes remaining to give TU its first lead of the game. Marketa Hollingsworth drove the lane for a lay-up seconds later to take back the lead, but it was shortlived as Dupree made it 16-15 Temple at 7:20. Sophomore Kamesha Hairston gave Temple the lead for good a few seconds later after hitting a jumper. The Owls continued to roll and took a 32-19 lead at the half.
Temple continued to dominate in the second half and by the 14-minute mark, took a 24-point lead. The gap widened by as much as 30 before the Lady Bearcats began a slight scoring run. However, a 19-point differential is as close at the Owls would allow as they opened back up the lead on their way to a 72-42 victory.
Senior Cynthia Jordan was also in double figures for Temple, tallying 11 points and six assists. Senior Ari Moore grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, while freshman Ashley Morris totaled five points and six assists in 19 minutes of play.
Latricia Jones led the way for Morgan State with 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Owls travel to the Sunshine State for their next match-up, a non-conference game against the University of Florida on Saturday, December 4th at 2:30 p.m.
