Temple University Athletics
DUPREE EARNS DOUBLE-DOUBLE TO LEAD #23/22 TEMPLE TO SECOND STRAIGHT BIG FIVE CROWN
2.17.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA- Tonight's game was advertised as Candice Dupree night and what a night it was for the senior All-America Candidate. Dupree scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds to lead #23/22 Temple over the visiting Saint Joseph's Hawks, 59-53, on Friday night at the Liacouras Center. The senior posted a double-double in the first half (10 points, 12 boards) and was just one rebound shy of tying a Liacouras Center record for individual rebounds in a game, as Temple earned its second straight Big Five crown. She added four blocks and two assists as the Owls improved to 19-6 and 10-3 in A-10 play. The Hawks fell to 16-8 and 8-5.
Temple went a perfect 4-0 in Big Five play for the second straight year and captured its third Big Five title in the last five years.
The Owls struggled in the opening minutes of the game, going just 2-for-11 from the field in the first seven minutes and earning most of their points off of free throws. Temple failed to sink a field goal until the 17 minute mark, after the team missed several easy lay-ups. The Hawks were able to take an 11-6 lead as Temple continued to struggle from the field. Several subsequent SJU turnovers allowed Temple to keep the game close and a jumper by Fatima Maddox at 3:10 tied the contest at 17. TU used a 10-0 run to close out the first stanza and take a 25-17 advantage going into the locker room. Neither team shot well, with Temple making just 35.5% of its shots and the Hawks making just 24% of their attempts.
Temple was able to extend its lead to 10 points (27-17) with a Dupree jumper to begin the second half and it looked as if the game would belong to Temple. It seems that Saint Joe's wasn't about to let that happen without a fight. The Hawks put together a 15-2 run, sparked by three consecutive treys by Jen Olyer, to take a 35-32 lead with 12:26 to play. A trey by Maddox ended the SJU scoring run and allowed the Owls to go on a 14-0 run and regain the lead (51-40) by 5:38. SJU battled back but could only get as close as five points as Temple walked away with the 59-53 win and its second straight Big Five crown.
Lady Comfort was the only other Owl to reach double-figures with 12 points, while Khadija Bowens earned a game-high four steals to go along with seven points and five boards.
Tonight also marked the return of senior guard Jennifer Owens. Owens played 24 minutes, dishing three assists and scoring two points.
Hillary Klimowicz earned a double double with 13 points and 11 boards to lead three Hawks in double figures. Oyler and Timisha Gomez each had 11 points.
After posting a better shooting percentage in the second half, the Owls finished with a 38.2% performance, just edging Saint Joe's 35.2% result.
Temple travels to Dayton for a Sunday contest with the Flyers at 2 p.m.
