Temple University Athletics
THREE-PEAT!! TEMPLE WOMEN TOP GW FOR THIRD STRAIGHT A-10 BASKETBALL TITLE
3.6.06 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA-As they have so many times before Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston showed why they are All-Conference players. Dupree earned her 11th double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds and Hairston netted 18 points to lead #18 Temple to its third straight A-10 title on Monday night at Saint Joe's Fieldhouse. The Owls defeated #1 seed George Washington, 59-54, a team that had been victorious in two previous meetings earlier this season, as Dupree earned her third straight Most Oustanding Player Award. Hairston was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Dupree is just the second player in A-10 history to earn MOP honors three times (2004, 2005, 2006) and the only player to win it outright in all three years. Rutgers' Sue Wicks was voted the MOP outright in 1986 and in 1988 and the Co-MOP in 1987.
Temple is just the second team to win the A-10 title three times in a row (2004, 2005, 2006). Penn State won the title four straight years from 1983-86. The Owls have won four out of the last five A-10 titles.
After making the NCAA tournament only once in team history entering this decade, Owls coach Dawn Staley has led the program to unprecedented success. The Owls (24-7) are in the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and fourth time in the last five seasons. Staley's first season in 2000-01 was the only one without postseason play.
The opening minutes did not look promising for the Owls, as Dupree went 0-4 and Temple failed to score a basket until 14:41. Though the Colonials took an early lead, TU's tenacious defense allowed the Owls to keep it close and a lay-up by Lady Comfort tied the game at 8 with 12:23 to play. Dupree's first points of the game gave Temple it's first lead (14-13) at the nine minute mark but the lead was shortlived as the Colonials went on a 7-2 run to take a 20-16 lead with just under five minutes to play. Fatima Maddox sank a trey just as time was about to expire on the shot clock to tie the game at 21 and Shenita Landry iced free throws down the stretch to give Temple a 25-23 advantage at the half. Neither team shot particulary well from field in the first stanza, with both going just 9-for-28.
The teams continued their shooting woes in the second stanza, with neither team hitting a field goal until Dupree made a lay-up at 17:15. Kimberly Beck tied the game at 25 just one minute into the second half off of two free throws and set the scene for what would be the next few minutes. The game was back and forth with both teams taking turns with a one-point lead. Hairston's three point play at the 13 minute mark started Temple on a 7-2 run that gave the Owls a bit of breathing room (43-35) at 10:51. GW wasn't finished yet, however, and went on an 8-0 run that tied the score at 43 with a little over nine minutes to play. The score stayed tied at 43 for a full three minutes. The Owls had an opportunity to take a lead but they missed four straight free throws to make the GW fouls null and void. Landry finally hit one at 6:48 to end the stale mate and sparked a 6-0 Temple run for a 51-43 advantage with just three minutes to play. GW starter Jessica Simmonds, who had been assessed a technical foul earlier in the game, earned her fifth foul and yet another technical at 2:17 to give Temple a chance for four extra points. Hairston made three of four to put the Owls up 11 (54-43) and secure a third A-10 championship trophy on North Broad Street. GW sank two treys in the final minute but it was too late, as the Owls received the 59-54 win and the NCAA automatic bid.
Temple shot 50% from the field in the second half to finish with a 40% shooting percentage but the difference proved to be on the foul line. The Owls took 28 trips to the charity stripe, making 18, while the Colonials were just 6-of-11.
Comfort finished with seven rebounds, while Jennifer Owens dished four assists. Hairston added three assists and two blocks to her all-tournament performance and Maddox chipped in with six points. Landry led Temple with two steals.
Beck was the only player to see double-figures for GW, netting 21 off of 8-for-15 shooting. She also had four steals.
Temple will now wait for its NCAA Tournament seed and destination. Selection Monday is next Monday, March 13 at 6 p.m.
