Temple University Athletics
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES 2005-06 SCHEDULE
9.7.05 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - After posting arguably the most successful season in program history, the Temple women's basketball team is back with a non-conference schedule that is sure to give the Owls some steep competition. Head Coach Dawn Staley has her squad squaring off against three teams that were ranked in the Top 25 last season, as well as Philadelphia rivals, Villanova, Penn and Drexel. Temple will also compete in the University of Oregon Invitational beginning November 11. The Owls will begin Atlantic 10 play on January 3, when they travel to George Washington for a rematch of last season's A-10 title game.
Temple will play host to SEC powerhouses Tennessee, Georgia and Florida and travel to New Brunswick, N.J. for a rematch with Rutgers. Tennessee went to the Final Four, ending the season ranked #4/3. Rutgers, which ended Temple's unforgettable run last season in the NCAA Second Round, advanced to the Elite Eight of the Philadelphia Regional, only to be taken down by Tennessee. #13/21 Georgia made it to the Sweet 16 before falling to Duke. Temple rebounded after its 77-58 loss at Florida on December 4, 2004 to compile a 25-game winning streak. When broken by Rutgers on March 22, 2005, the streak was the longest of any women's or men's team in the nation.
The Rutgers/Temple rematch, which will pit USA Basketball teammates Candice Dupree and Cappie Pondexter and Olympic player Dawn Staley and Olympic Coach C. Vivian Stringer against one another, will be shown nationally on ESPNU on January 19. ESPN2 will feature Temple vs. Xavier on January 2 at 2 p.m. in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Staley, who enters her sixth season, is coming off a year in which she was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the second straight year, as well as the Big Five Coach of the Year for the third time in five years. After leading her team to its best season in school history, Staley also earned a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Regional Coach of the Year Award for Region 1. As if all of that wasn't enough, Staley became the fastest coach in Temple women's basketball history to reach the 100 win plateau. She reached the milestone in the team's win over Xavier in the semifinal round of the A-10 Tournament. She currently boasts an impressive 102-51 career coaching record. Senior All-America candidate Candice Dupree, who led the Owls in scoring, rebounding and blocks, will captain the 2005-06 squad.
See attached for complete schedule.
