Temple University Athletics
#19 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS SAINT LOUIS, 62-43
2.10.06 | Women's Basketball
ST. LOUIS, MO.-Candice Dupree earned her sixth double double of the season with 16 points and 12 boards to lead #19 Temple (18-5, 9-2 A-10) to a 62-43 win over A-10 newcomer Saint Louis (5-17, 2-9 A-10) on Friday night. Dupree tied her career-high with five blocks and added four assists, while Kamesha Hairston netted 11 points and dished a career-high six helpers. She also had five steals. Fatima Maddox rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points.
Temple played aruguably the ugliest 20 minutes of basketball of the season in the first half. The Owls shot 57.1% from the field but 14 turnovers, including six in a row, hampered any help that a high shooting percentage could provide. Luckily for Temple, Saint Louis also suffered in the first stanza, shooting just 28.6% and committing 10 misscues. TU built a quick 10-6 lead, thanks to six straight points by Lady Comfort. An 11-8 tally held for 2 1/2 minutes but Maddox hit a jumper making it 13-8 at 14:26. Then the Owls began to break down, committing four straight turnover. Luckily they were able to get stops on the defensive end, and held the Billikens without a basket for eight minutes. Temple then built a 13-0 run, only to have it riddled with turnovers and allowing SLU to hang around for the 26-20 halftime score.
TU started off the second half much like the first, with a turnover. They rebounded with a 4-0 run to make it 30-20 with 18:20 remaining. But turnovers and fouls, including a personal and a technical on Comfort allowed the Billikens to gain momentum and eventually the lead with a Tyler McIlwraith trey (36-35) at 10:50. TU battled back and with the score tied at 38, seemed to finally get into an offensive groove. The Owls ended the half with a 24-5 run to seal the 62-43 final.
McIlwraith was the only Billiken to see double figures, scoring 12 points.
Shenita Landry posted another great game, earning seven boards and three steals.
The Owls continue their road stand with a game at Richmond on Sunday at 2 p.m.
