Temple University Athletics
TURNOVERS HURT #18/16 OWLS IN 58-55 LOSS TO FLORIDA
12.3.05 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- In dropping their first contest of the season, and first home game in their last 15 dating back to last season, #18/16 Temple Owls failed to avenge last season's loss to Florida Saturday evening at the Liacouras Center in a 58-55 defeat. Junior Kamesha Hairston led all scorers with a season-high 24 points and six rebounds. The Gators were led by senior Dalila Eshe's team-leading 20 points and eight rebounds. In the loss, the Owls shot a blistering 50% (7-for-14) from beyond the arc, but failed to take care of the basketball in key possessions that resulted in a season-high 26 turnovers.
While both teams failed to convert on their first three possessions, senior guard Khadija Bowens broke the scoring stalemate at the 17:29 mark. Temple was offensively fueled in the first half by Hairston's 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG) and three rebounds. Sophomore center Lady Comfort cleaned the glass for six rebounds while the Owls were supported on the scoring end by reserve guard Ashley Morris' two baskets from three-point range. Senior All-America candidate Candice Dupree struggled to find her rhythm in only shooting 2-for-7 from the field for four points and four rebounds. Temple was stifled early and often by a Gator half-court defense that captured eight steals and forced 12 turnovers resulting in 12 points.
Eshe opened the scoring for the Gators en route to a team-leading 12 first half points. Florida possessed a second inside threat in senior forward Brittany Davis (3-5 FG, 6 pts, 4 reb) while the team's leading scorer freshman Sha Brooks failed to score her first basket until the 7:53 mark. Junior reserve guard Kim Dye sparked the Gators' bench output draining two of three long range attempts. UF shot 41% from the field while only surrendering just four turnovers. The Gators held a seven point advantage before Hairston's bucket in the waning seconds cut the Owls' halftime deficit to just five, 34-29.
The Owls wasted no time in cutting the Florida advantage to three with their first possession of the second half following a Bowens feed and Hairston lay-up. Hairston picked up right where she left off after the intermission scoring 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Contrary to Hairston's outing, Dupree's struggles continued throughout the second half with just eight points for the night on 4-for-11 shooting -- well shy of her 17.7 ppg season average. Temple got contributing production from the slashing Bowens (4 pts, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), senior guard Jennifer Owens (7 pts, 3 assists), and Comfort (6 pts, 10 rebounds).
Eshe's performance was complimented by Davis' gutty 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting -- she also grabbed seven caroms. Brooks, averaging 16.6 thus far in non-conference play, remained relatively quiet throughout in handing the spotlight to Eshe -- her 10 points on 4-9 shooting was a season-low. She also failed to make a three-point attempt for the first time this season. After committing 17 turnovers, Florida finished shooting 38.9% from the field while hitting 33% of their 3-point attempts.
Winding down an exciting second half, led for the majority by the visitors, Temple faced a six-point deficit with under one minute remaining before Hairston was fouled shooting a three. Hairston converted all three free throws then rebounded a Gators' miss down the other end setting up a dramatic final seven seconds. Head coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley's out of bounds play found Owens with a clean look at a tie, but the sniper left it short giving the visitors a close 58-55 win.
Responding to a 1-17 performance against UMES and a 13-74 (17.5%) season total, the Owls' seven three-point field goals was a season-high.
Florida senior Sarah Lowe and freshman Brooke Cornish both played in front family as the suburban natives played their prep ball at Lower Merion and Archbishop Carroll, respectively.
Temple resumes play at Stony Brook Wednesday night (12/7) at 7:00 p.m.
