Temple University Athletics
DUPREE'S 31 ADVANCES TEMPLE TO THIRD STRAIGHT A-10 FINAL
3.5.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA- Candice Dupree tied a career-high 31 points, while Kamesha Hairston earned a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead #22/20 Temple (23-7) over the Duquesne Dukes (13-17) in the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Dupree needed just 28 minutes to reach her career-high, netting 22 in the first half. The Owls shot a stifling 52.2% from the field and 83.3% from the charity stripe to advance to their third straight A-10 final game. Temple will face George Washington on Monday night at 5 p.m. on ESPN2. The Colonials narrowly edged the Saint Joe's Hawks, 53-51, in the first semi-final game.
Temple was a dominating presence on the boards, outrebounding the Dukes, 43-22.
Both teams started off the half shooting well from the field, with the Owls making 67% of their field goals and the Dukes making 57% of their shots by the 14 minute mark. Temple continued to shoot well and finished the half at 60%, while Duquesne dropped down to 28.6%. Dupree took over from the very first whistle and scored 14 of Temple's 21 points by the 13 minute mark, allowing the Owls to take a 21-12 lead. Though Duquesne had kept pace with Temple for a majority of the half, the Dukes steadily began to fall behind, giving TU a 26-14 advantage by 10:30. Two free throws by Kristi Little sparked a 7-2 Duke run, however, and allowed Duquesne to claw back to within seven (28-21) with 7:49 remaining. Temple ran away again, opening up a 34-21 lead with 6:25 to go but the Dukes forced three straight Temple turnovers to get back to within eight points (34-26) at the 5:07 mark. Temple contiued to stay strong, however, and was able to take a 42-29 advantage into the locker room. Consistency at the free throw line has been something that the Owls have struggled with throughout the year but a perfect 10-for-10 performance in the first half may have given them just the consistency that they were looking for. Hairston netted 11 first half points off of 3-of-6 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the line.
Dupree continued to play well in the second half, adding six more points in the first seven minutes. The Owls expanded their lead to as much as 21 (65-44) with a jumper by Khadija Bowens at the nine minute mark. With Dupree at a career-high 31 and Hairston with a double-double, Head Coach Dawn Staley, decided to let the reserves play the final 10 minutes of the game. The Dukes got as close as 12 points (75-63) with 1:10 to go before Temple finished out with the 76-63 final.
Bowens dished five assists to go with her five points, while Lady Comfort chipped in with six points and seven rebounds.
Nicole Sinclair led Duquesne, who was playing in its first semi-final since 1992, with 14 points and Loui Hall had 12 points.
Temple will face GW in a rematch of the 2005 A-10 Final tomorrow night at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
