Temple University Athletics
DUPREE AND HAIRSTON RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLES TO LEAD TEMPLE WOMEN OVER RHODE ISLAND, 72-51
1.8.05 | Women's Basketball
KINGSTON, RI--Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston each recorded double-doubles to lead Temple to a 72-51 win over the Rhode Island Rams on Friday night at the Ryan Center. Dupree was just three steals shy of a triple double, earning 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals, while Hairston garnerned her first career double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Owls, who are currently on a seven-game winning streak, improve to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic 10, while the Rams fall to 3-10 overall, 1-1 in the A-10.
The game began on a sloppy note, with neither team sinking a basket on its first two trips down the floor. This would be a chronic problem throughout the game as the teams committed a total of 54 turnovers. Cynthia Jordan finally started off the Owls' scoring with a lay-up at 18:53. Chrys Washington equalized the score at 17:31 but Temple would go on a 14-1 run to take a 16-3 lead at 13:25. Safi Mojidi broke the URI scoring drought with a jumper at 12:52 and Tanya Rhodes would add another basket 30 seconds later but the Rams' scoring would be short lived, as Dupree scored six straight points to give TU a 22-9 advantage at 9:47. Rhodes sparked a Ram comeback at 7:16, finally getting URI into double-digits and allowed her team to continue on a 12-2 run that would pull Rhode Island within five points at the half, 28-23.
Dupree repeated her performance in the second half, scoring six straight points to give Temple a 34-23 lead. By the ten minute mark, the Owls' lead had swelled to as much as 20 points and showed little sign of stopping. However, URI leading scorer Peta Kneen exploded for eight points to cut Temple's lead to 14. Kneen, who finished the half with 10 points, proved to be just a speed bump in Temple's road to victory, as the Owls continued to roll, gaining as much as a 25 point lead before settling on the end result of 72-51.
Ari Moore also netted in double figures for TU with 11 points, seven rebounds and a team-high three assists. Jordan and Moore also contributed three steals a piece.
Rhodes was the high scorer for Rhode Island with 20 points off of 9-for-16 shooting.
Temple looks to continue its winning ways with a game at Fordham on Sunday at 2 p.m.
