Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE'S DUPREE NAMED ATLANTIC 10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON
3.1.06 | Women's Basketball
Dupree ranks second in the Conference in scoring (17.0) and third in rebounding (9.2) while leading her team to a first round bye in the 2006 A-10 Championship. The Tampa, FL, native finished the regular season with nine double-doubles en route to earning four A-10 Player of the Week honors and is shooting an impressive 51% from the floor. She led the 20th-ranked Owls to their third straight 20-win season with a 21-7 mark and helped the Owls to two wins over ranked programs, including a 48-47 victory over then-#9 Rutgers in Temple's first-ever win over a top 10 program on Jan. 19. A Wooden Award and Naismith Award finalist, Dupree also repeated as the Defensive Player of the Year and garnered First-Team All-Conference honors. She leads the league in blocks (2.36) while helping Temple rank second in the Conference in scoring defense, allowing just 54.7 points per game.
Hairston is second on the squad in scoring, averaging 12.4 ppg and is also averaging 5.9 rpg. She leads the team and is third in the A-10 in steals, averaging 2.29 spg. A preseason All-Atlantic 10 and All-defensive team selection, the Toledo, Ohio product has had 20 double-figure scoring games this season. She also leads Temple at the charity stripe, shooting 80% from the free throw line. Hairston has blocked 24 shots this season and dished 48 assists.
#22/20 Temple (21-7, 12-4 A-10) is the #3 seed in the 2006 Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Owls will take on the winner of the Rhode Island/Dayton game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Saint Joseph's.
