GAINESVILLE, FL -- Candice Dupree did all that she could to try and lead her team to victory in her home state of Florida. The Owls' leading scorer netted 18 points and grabbed a game-high 11 boards. However, it was Temple's inability to defend against Florida's deadly three-point shot that squashed all hopes of a victory in Gainesville. The Gators (4-2) hit 11 of 24 treys to defeat the Temple Owls (3-3), 77-58, on Saturday afternoon in the O'Connell Center.
Dupree started off the scoring for Temple with a lay-up right off the tip. Kamesha Hairston made it 4-0 with a jumper at 19:16. This would be the first and last time that Temple would lead however, as the Gators went on a series of 7-0 and 5-0 runs to build a 23 point lead at the half. Tamia Williams went 4-4 from the three-point line to score a game-high 14 points for the first half, while teammate Tishona Gregory hit three of four treys for 13 points. The Gators forced 13 first-half turnovers to secure a 44-21 lead at the half.
The Gators lead swelled to as much as 30 in the second half, before the Owls were able to regain a defensive hold. Freshmen Ashley Morris and Lady Comfort attempted to close the gap, scoring six points a piece, while Hairston totaled nine, but the Gators would only allow the Owls to get as close as 19 before the final buzzer sounded. Temple out-rebounded Florida, 41-35, with the most noticeable difference coming on the offensive rebound end, where there was a 16-8 differential.
Williams led all scorers with 23 points after hitting six treys. Gregory chipped in with 17 points.
Temple returns home to take on the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, December 8 at 5:30 p.m. in a women's and men's double-header.
