Temple University Athletics
DUPREE RACKS UP THIRD DOUBLE-DOUBLE TO LEAD TEMPLE OVER VILLANOVA, 64-57
12.21.04 | Women's Basketball
VILLANOVA, PA- Junior Candice Dupree knew it was her turn to step up and step up she did. Dupree scored game-highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds, two short of her career high, to lead Temple (6-3) over Villanova (6-3), 64-57, on Tuesday night at The Pavilion. Dupree was a monster on defense, grabbing 13 defensive rebounds and swatting away three shots on her way to her third double-double of the season.
Tonight's contest was also a battle for sole possession of the Big 5 title. Going into tonight's game, Villanova was 3-0 in the Big 5 and a win over Temple (2-0 Big 5) would have crowned it the early winner. However, Dupree, who led four Owls in double figures, squashed all hopes of the Wildcats winning the title out right.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, though Temple kept the score close, due in part to Villanova's turnover troubles. Jackie Adamshick and Jennifer Hilgenberg combined to hit four three-point shots for the half, allowing Villanova to take as much as a 10-point lead. Though it was Villanova that dominated along the perimeter, it was Dupree that dominated underneath. Dupree grabbed eight of her 15 total boards in the first half but the 'Cats still took a 33-23 lead going into the half.
When the buzzer sounded for the second half to begin, it seemed as if Temple had finally figured out the secret to Villanova's success. They began a full-court press, which flustered the Villanova offense and held them scoreless for three minutes. When the smoke finally cleared, Temple had gone on a 7-0 run to pull within two points. Jenna Viani broke the 'Nova scoring drought with a trey to give VU a little cushion. However, a Dupree jumper and a trey by Cynthia Jordan tied the game at 36 with15:49 to go. The teams battled back and forth and it wasn't until Kamesha Hairston drove the lane at 3:47 that Temple took the lead for good. Villanova tried to hang on, fouling the Owls at every chance they got, but it was too later and Temple took the game 64-57.
Hairston, who was second on the team with 12 points, did a tremendous job on Villanova leading scorer Liad Suez. Hairston allowed Suez to take just one shot, which she missed. Ari Moore and Jordan rounded out the double-figure scoring with 10 points a piece.
Adamshick and Hilgenberg were the big scorers for Villanova with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Though the Owls were outrebounded 38-39, it was the turnover differential that proved to be a factor in the game. Villanova committed 14 turnovers to Temple's three.
Tonight also marked the return of Khadija Bowens to the line-up. Bowens had been absent since the middle of the 2002-03 season, in which she averaged 11.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 11 contests. Versus the Wildcats, Bowens scored eight points and earned one rebound and two blocks in 20 minutes of play.
The Owls are off until December 30th when they take on Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Liacouras Center at 7 p.m.
