Temple University Athletics
DUPREE AND COMPANY CRUISE TO FOURTH CONFERENCE VICTORY WITH 74-65 WIN OVER ST. BONAVENTURE
1.15.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - #19/20 Temple improved to 12-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play with a 74-65 win over visiting St. Bonaventure Sunday afternoon at the Liacouras Center. All-America candidate Candice Dupree led three double-figure Temple scorers with 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Bonnie red-shirt freshman Ashley Edwards recorded the first double-double of her career en route to 15 points and 14 rebounds. The Owls eighth consecutive win over the Bonnies dropped the visitors to 7-9 overall and 1-4 in the Atlantic 10.
The Owls took advantage of a hot shooting stretch before finishing the first half at a 64 percent clip from the field and with a 42-25 scoring edge. While connecting on eight of their first 11 attempts, the hosts used a balance offensive attack with Dupree (six-of-seven shooting, 12 points), junior forward Kamesha Hairston (four-of-seven, eight points), sophomore center Lady Comfort (three-of-four, seven points), senior sniper Jennifer Owens (two-of-four, five points), and junior reserve guard Fatima Maddox (two-of-two, five points). Both Dupree (five rebounds) and Comfort (four) led an Owls clean up effort that outworked the Bonnies to a 19-10 edge off the glass.
In efforts to stifle the explosive Owls offense, Bonnie junior forward Audrey Latendresse posted a team-high nine points on three-of-four shooting (two-of-two long range). Sixth year St. Bonaventure head coach Jim Crowley has to be optimistic about the potential of Edwards. Edwards (six points, two-of-three, and a team-high six rebounds), a Philadelphia native and prep teammate of Temple guard Ashley Morris, held her own against the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in Dupree. Sophomore guard Priscilla Edwards deposited eight points and dropped two assists for a Bonnie offense that shot just 32 percent from the field.
While the Owls' overall shooting percentage slightly dropped in the second half (57 percent), the hosts used a timely long-range attack in keeping a double-digit advantage. Owens, a season 30 percent shooter from beyond the arc, torched the Bonnies for three treys on her way to 13 points for the game. Dupree and Hairston (15 points, six rebounds) remained solid throughout the final 20 minutes aiding Temple to their 26th conference win in the last 27 games.
An inspired St. Bonaventure second half, led by Latendresse, Ashley Edwards, and Priscilla Edwards, saw a one-time 20-point Temple advantage drop to as low as 8 with 1:03 remaining. Latendresse recorded a team-high 19 points on six-of-ten shooting (three-of-five from long-range) while St. Bonaventure leading scorer Stephanie Collins (11.9 points per game average) struggled throughout shooting just one-of-eight from the field for two points. Priscilla Edwards posted 14 points on four-of-eleven shooting.
The Owls return to the action Thursday evening looking to avenge last season's NCAA Tournament loss at #10 Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights snapped the Owls' 25-game winning streak from a year ago. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
