Temple University Athletics
#17 WOMEN FALL TO GW, 55-50 IN OT IN 2005-06 HOME FINALE
2.24.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA- Double-doubles by senior Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston were not enough to overcome a poor shooting percentage and 21 turnovers as #17 Temple fell, 55-50, in overtime to visiting GW on Friday night at the Liacouras Center. Dupree scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds on her senior night, while Hairston had 10 points,10 boards and five steals. After taking a 25-14 lead at the half, Temple responded with a 25.9% shooting percentage in the second stanza to allow the Colonials to mount a comeback and force overtime. The Owls were outscored 9-5 in the extra stanza, allowing GW to crush all hopes of a TU regular season A-10 title. The teams were tied for second place in the Conference going into the game, both posting 11-3 records. Temple falls to 20-7 overall and 11-4 in the A-10, while the Colonials improve to 19-7 overall and 12-3 in the A-10.
The game started off with poor shooting and rampant turnovers for both teams. Hairston gave Temple its first field goal with 17:10 remaining, tying the score at three, a result that would stay the same for the next two minutes. GW capitalized on two straight Temple turnovers and a four minute scoreless drought to build a 7-3 lead. Dupree came to the rescue and went on an 8-0 run to give Temple a 15-7 advantage with 6:33 to play. Sarah Jo Lawrence finally ended GW's nearly 10 minute scoreless drought with a jumper at 5:40 but consistent shooting allowed the Owls to increase their lead to 11 (20-9) at the five minute mark. Fearing a single digit tally going into the break, the Colonials went on a 4-0 run to end the half and make it 25-14 Temple at the half. Ironically, when the teams played in Washington in early January, it was GW that was ahead 25-15 at the break. GW ended the half with just a 21.4% shooting percentage, while the Owls rebounded to shoot nearly 43% from the field.
GW began the second half with an 8-3 run, while holding TU without a field goal until 16:39 and was able to make the score 28-22 at 15:47. Temple continued to struggle offensively and defensively with errant passes and foul trouble, and the Colonials went on a 16-8 run to make it a three point game (35-32) with 8:53 remaining. Khadija Bowens ended the run with a trey but the Colonials continued to pressure and were able to cut Temple's lead to just one point in the final minutes. With the score 45-43 in Temple's favor, Jessica Adair makes a lay-up with 18 seconds left to tie the score at 45. Temple turned the ball over on its next possession and was lucky that Lawrence missed the jumper at the buzzer to force overtime.
GW went on a 6-0 run to take complete control of the extra stanza. Dupree finally got Temple on the board with a jumper at 1:15 but GW had already built a 51-47 lead. Just when it seemed that the game was over, Hairston nails a trey and is fouled, allowing Temple to get within three (53-50) with 37 seconds to go. The Colonials iced two free throws down the stretch to ensure the 55-50 win.
Khadija Bowens also saw double figures with 13 points on her senior day. Fatima Maddox dished five assists to lead Temple.
Lawrence finished with 21 points, while Beck had 10. Jessica Simmonds was unstoppable on the defensive end with four steals and three blocks.
Temple travels to Rhode Island for its final regular season game on Sunday at 2 p.m.
