Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE'S FALLS TO RUTGERS, 61-54, IN NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SECOND ROUND ACTION
3.22.05 | Women's Basketball
STORRS, CT -- Temple's fairytale season came to a close on Tuesday night against the very team that began the story. After winning 25 straight games, a #15 national ranking and a trip to the NCAA Second Round for just the second time in school history, the Owls ended their run with a 61-54 loss to Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights advance to the Philadelphia Regional to play Ohio State, while Temple finishes its season with a 28-4 overall record.
Temple defeated Rutgers, 71-60 on December 13th for its first victory over a ranked opponent since the 1989 season. That was win number two in the string of 25, previously the nation's longest.
Seniors Cynthia Jordan and Ari Moore, who will finish as Temple's all-time winningest class with 83 wins and three Atlantic 10 titles, led TU with 15 and 13 points, respectively, while Candice Dupree chipped in with 11 points. Jordan, Moore and Kamesha Hairston played with four fouls for most of the contest. After sparking Temple with a late second half run, Moore fouled out with 3:38 remaining in the contest.
"I knew it was the end. I didn't want to go out like this. But I'm not going to let just this one loss define the season," Moore said.
Temple actually took an early 5-4 lead, thanks in part to a jumper and a foul shot by Jordan and a jumper by Moore. Nikki Jett scored four straight points to give Rutgers the lead, a lead that they would never relinquish. Cappie Pondexter went on to score 11 of RU's next 17 points to give Rutgers a 25-14 lead with 5:45 remaining. Temple began to battle back and Jordan scored seven points down the stretch to put Temple within six points (30-24) going into the half. Temple had 11 first half turnovers and shot just 40.9% from the field, which was no match for the Scarlet Knights' 63.2% shooting average.
Pondexter continued her scoring barrage in the second half, giving her team as much as a 17-point lead by 12:30. The scrappy Owls refused to go away, however, and went on a 15-6 run, including two treys by Moore to pull within seven points (52-45) at 7:23. With the clock winding down and three starters playing with four fouls, Temple fought to keep within single digits. Rutgers iced free throws down the stretch to seal the 61-54 win and its sixth trip to the Sweet 16.
Pondexter had 25 points and five steals, going 7-of-14 from the field and hitting all three of her 3-point attempts. Chelsea Newton added 11 points for Rutgers (27-6). "I think our kids can hold their heads up proudly when they walk through our arena with other teams playing," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "We don't have anything to be afraid of. I know that although we lost a game we gained some respect from the nation, from Rutgers, from anybody that tuned in." Stringer, who helped coach Staley on the U.S. Olympic team last summer, had high praise for the program Staley has built. "They never gave up. That's a real tribute to Dawn Staley," Stringer said. "They should be respected."
