Pittman's Last Second Lay-in Leads Temple Over Villanova, 68-66

Dec. 22, 2006

Villanova, Pa- Nicole Pittman only had two points in the entire game but she made them count, as the junior's lay-up with 1.1 seconds remaining gave Temple a 68-66 win over the Villanova Wildcats on Friday afternoon.  LaKeisha Eaddy had a banner day, scoring a career-high 20 points and dishing five assists and a team-leading three steals. All-American candidate Kamesha Hairston earned her sixth double-double, with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Temple goes into the Christmas break with a 7-4 overall record, while the Wildcats drop to 5-6 overall.

The game was back and forth throughout most of the first half and, with Hairston unable to put the ball in the basket, Eaddy took over. The freshman guard surpassed her career-high in the first 10 minutes of the game but she was the lone bright spot of the slow and lethargic looking Owls. Temple couldn't find an answer for Jackie Adamshick and Lisa Karcic in the first half and soon found themselves down by five points, a deficit (36-31) that would hold at the break. Eaddy netted 14 points for the Owls in the first half, while Karcic and Adamshick had 13 and 10, respectively.

Temple went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 38 with 17 minutes remaining. The Wildcats kept pace, however, by draining their trademark three-pointers and soon took a 51-43 lead by the 12 minute mark. The Owls continued to fight but could not seem to get closer than eight or 10 points until Hairston stepped in. The senior leader made her first field goal of the game at the 11:32 mark, sparking a 13-6 run that gave TU a 61-57 advantage with just under five minutes to go. Tia Grant broke the five minute scoring drought for the Wildcats and put together a 4-0 run to tie the game yet again at 61 just a minute later. The teams traded the lead until the final minute of the game when things really got interesting. Grant's hook shot ties the game at 66 with just 42 seconds to play. Temple takes possession and Hairston drives the lane for a lay-up that doesn't drop. She grabs the rebound and tries again. It still doesn't go. Pittman grabs the final rebound and banks it off the glass for the game-winner with 1.1 seconds remaining. The Wildcats tried a last second desperation shot but Eaddy intercepted the pass and ended all hopes of an equalizer.

Hairston netted 15 second-half points, while Lady Comfort posted 13 points for the game.

Adamshick finished with 19 points, while Karcic had 18. Briana Weiss also scored in double figures with 12 points.

The Owls are off until Friday, December 29 when they continue Big Five play with a game at Penn at 7 p.m.

Temple University Athletics

Pittman's Last Second Lay-in Leads Temple Over Villanova, 68-66

Related News

Related Videos