PHILADELPHIA--Every fairytale has a hero. Senior Cynthia Jordan became Temple's knight in shining armor on Monday afternoon, netting a career-high 28 points and tying a school record, to lead the Owls (5-3) to their first victory over a ranked team since the 1989 season. The Owls held Rutgers (5-2) to just 39% shooting from the field, garnering a 71-60 win over the #22 Scarlet Knights. Ironically it was 20th-ranked Rutgers that gave Temple its last win over a ranked opponent, an 81-68 victory on March 10, 1989. Jordan went 14-17 from the free throw line, tying a school record for free throws made in a game.
The first half was sloppy with the teams committing a combined total of 19 turnovers. After keeping the score fairly even, the Owls took a slight lead, first by two, the by five and finally by as much as 13. Temple, sparked by the play of junior Candice Dupree, went on a 12-2 run midway through the second half to take a 29-16 lead at 2:11. Dupree scored 8 points and tallied one steal during this six minute run. Rutgers scored four straight points in the last two minutes of the half to bring them within nine and allowing the score to stand 29-20 at the half.
The Scarlet Knights began the second half with a three-pointer by Nikki Jet to cut Temple's lead to six points. However, Kamesha Hairston and Jordan stopped Rutgers in its tracks, allowing the Owls to take as much as a 20-point lead by the midway mark. Jordan scored 13 points during this stretch, hitting three 3-point shots and four free-throws. Rutgers began to battle back, forcing six Temple turnovers with just under three minutes to go. However, Rutgers put defending Atlantic-10 Player of the Week Jordan at the line four times before the final buzzer would sound. The senior, who is currently a 71% free-throw shooter, hit 7 of 8 shots to lead the Owls to a 71-60 victory.
Dupree also scored in double-figures, tallying 16 points, while Hairston earned 13. Ari Moore and Dupree accounted for 12 of Temple's 30 total rebounds.
Matee Ajavon was the high scorer for Rutgers, scoring 18 points. Michelle Campbell was only other player to score in double figures with 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
The Owls travel to Villanova for their next match-up, a Big 5 game on December 21 at 7:30 p.m.
