Temple University Athletics
#19/20 OWLS REGAIN WINNING FORM IN 61-47 VICTORY OVER FORDHAM
1.13.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA-- Responding to their first Atlantic 10 loss in the last 25 Conference games Wednesday evening at George Washington, Dawn Staley and her #19/20 Temple Owls rolled to a 61-47 win over Fordham Friday evening at the Liacouras Center. All-America candidate Candice Dupree recorded her fifth double-double of the season en route to 19 points and 10 rebounds and narrowly missed a triple-double with a season-high seven steals. Fordham senior forward Jada Jefferson scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed seven caroms in the losing effort. With the win, the Owls improve to 11-4 overall, 3-1 in the Atlantic 10. Fordham dropped to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
The Temple offense bolted to an early 9-0 advantage courtesy of four different scorers. Following a Fordham timeout, it took nearly three and a half minutes for the Owls to influence the scoreboard again. Junior guard Fatima Maddox, who contributed eight points off the bench, scored seven of the next nine Temple points pushing the lead to 19-8 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half. Dupree, on four-of-six shooting, dropped a team-high 10 points and pulled down five rebounds while junior forward Kamesha Hairston added five points on two-of-seven shooting from the field. Senior guard Jennifer Owens, who connected on her only attempt from beyond the arc, dished four assists.
Defensively, the Owls pressured the Fordham offense into committing 18 turnovers resulting in 16 points. Following six straight points from Dupree, Temple took a 32-18 advantage into the locker room.
Held scoreless until the 14:10 mark of the first half, Fordham kept the game reasonably at hand shooting 44 percent while holding a 13-11 rebounding edge. Senior forward Jada Jefferson inspired a sluggish Ram offense with a team-high 10 points off five-of-eight shooting from the field. Junior guard Lisa Carrol, averaging 15.8 points per game, was held in check with only two points throughout the first 20 minutes.
The Temple advantage extended to as much as 16 points at the 12:52 mark before Fordham twice cut the lead to 10. Dupree added nine second half points on three-of-nine shooting while Hairston's offensive struggles continued (nine points). Maddox finished with a career-high 10 points, three rebounds, and three steals. Sophomore center Lady comfort captured seven boards.
Rams forward Vanessa Silva added inside support to Jefferson's performance with nine points on four-of-seven shooting and five rebounds. Carrol's scoring woes continued through the second half as she finished at a one-for-five shooting clip with only five points. The Rams struggled to find an answer for the Owls defense while committing 26 turnovers.
The Owls return to action Sunday afternoon at the Liacouras Center. The Atlantic 10 match-up with St. Bonaventure is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.
