Temple University Athletics
Owls Hold Western Michigan to Record Low Shooting Percentage in 78-35 Win
12.19.06 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2006
PHILADELPHIA-Lady Comfort led four Temple (6-4) players in double figures with 22 points as the Owls rolled over the visiting Western Michigan Broncos (5-7), 78-35, on Tuesday night at the Liacouras Center. TU set two new building records, as they held the Broncos to a 22.8% shooting percentage, thanks to just 10 points in the second half. They also out-rebounded WMU, 57-35, edging the old Liacouras Center record for rebounding margin (+21).
Senior All-American candidate Kamesha Hairston earned her fifth double-double with 12 points and 11 boards, while Fatima Maddox and LaKeisha Eaddy chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Eaddy, who dished a game-high six assists, held the nation's top scorer Carrie Moore to just one field goal, well below her 27.3 point average.
Both teams struggled to hit shots in the first half, with each making only 33% of its attempts. Temple took an early 12-6 lead on a jumper by Hairston at 13:54 but the Broncos battled back to take a 16-12 advantage at the nine minute mark. The Owls finally began to settle and rattled off a 16-4 run, giving them a 28-18 advantage with just over four and a half minutes to go. The 10 point differential stood for the remainder of the half and Temple took a 35-25 lead into the locker room. In a bit of a role reversal, Comfort scored 14 points, while Hairston grabbed 10 rebounds.
The second half was all Temple as the Owls stifled the Broncos with tough shooting and even tougher defense. TU shot a blistering 51.6% from the field, while holding Western Michigan to just a 15.2% shooting percentage. TU went on a 21-2 run to begin the half, opening up a 56-27 lead by the 12 minute mark. Moore finally broke the seven minute Bronco scoring drought with her only jumper of the game at 11:20 but a career-first three-pointer by Comfort just one minute later increased Temple's lead to 30 points (59-29). Western Michigan continued to shoot but just couldn't convert and quickly found itself in a 45 point deficit (76-31) before bowing out at the 78-35 result. Hairston also had three block and three steals for Temple.
Shenita Landry and Jasmine Stone each chipped in with eight rebounds. Tiera Delahoussaye was the lone Bronco to reach double-figures with 10 points. Temple begins Big 5 play on Friday when it travels to Villanova for a match-up with the Wildcats at 4 p.m.
