Temple University Athletics
SAINT JOSEPH'S EDGES #17/19 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, 65-64
1.27.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA-Hillary Klimowicz hit a lay-up with 3.2 seconds remaining to lift Saint Joseph's (13-6, 5-3 A-10) over the visiting #17/19 Temple Owls (14-5, 5-2 A-10) on Friday night at the SJU fieldhouse. Candice Dupree led all scorers with 20 points, while Khadija Bowens netted 17 before fouling out of the physical game with a minute and a half to play.
Though the Owls shot a game-best 56.3% from the floor, Temple was whistled for 25 fouls and committed 19 turnovers to allow the Hawks to take the lead from the first whistle. Whitney Ffrench led Saint Joseph's with 18 points, going 12-for-15 from the free throw line. Bowens was the only Temple player to foul out of the game, though six Owls finished the game with at least three fouls. Dupree picked up three in the first half, while Fatima Maddox and Lady Comfort played a majority of the second half with four fouls. The Hawks finished the game with just 14.
Saint Joseph's took an early 9-5 lead, thanks to three consecutive treys by Maura McBryan. Maddox kept the game close, however, as the junior transfer netted six points in the first five minutes to tie the score at 11. The Hawks then went on a 14-4 run to open up a 10 point lead, 25-15, by the eight minute mark. Dupree got Temple back on track with four straight points but the Hawks ended any hope of a Temple comeback, leading by as much as 13 points, as they took a 36-26 advantage going into the locker room.
Temple started the second half with a little offensive run, cutting the Hawk lead to six with 14 minutes remaining. But four TU fouls in two minutes allowed Saint Joe's to gain a 10-point lead once more. A 9-0 run sparked by a Bowens' trey got Temple within one point (50-49) at 8:36, the closest the score had been since the opening minutes, but SJU went on a run of its own to gain a five point cushion (55-50) with just over five minutes to play. Bowens sparked another Temple offensive surge, however, and got the Owls back within one point (60-59) before fouling out with just a minute and a half to go. Kamesha Hairston sank a jumper with one minute remaining to tie the score at 61 and it looked like the game was headed for overtime. Ashley Morris picked up her thrid foul five seconds later, sending Ffrench to the line for the 15th time. Ffrench iced both and gives SJU a 63-61 lead. The Owls pushed the ball down the court and Kamesha Hairston earned a three point play to put Temple on top (64-63) with just 18 seconds left. Temple's only lead of the game was shortlived, however, as French found Klimowicz under the basket for the game-winner. Comfort threw a long inbounds pass to her teammates but none were able to get a clean look and Hairston's jumper missed its mark as time expired.
Maddox finished with 13 points and five assists. Hairston rounded out double figure scoring with 10 points. Bowens led Temple with five assists and seven boards.
Ayahna Cornish scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds, while McBryan rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points for the Hawks.
Temple returns to the Liacouras Center on Sunday as it hosts UMass at 2 p.m.
