Temple University Athletics
Owls Open Atlantic 10 Schedule with 59-53 Win over Saint Joseph's
1.9.07 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Junior center Lady Comfort's first double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) of the season led three Temple (11-4, 1-0) double-figure scorers in an Atlantic 10 season-opening 59-53 win over Saint Joseph's Tuesday night at the Liacouras Center. Senior guard Whitney Ffrench scored a team-high 16 points as the Hawks (7-7, 0-1) shot a paltry 34.6 percent from the field and dropped just their second Atlantic 10 opener in the last 24 years.
After both offenses struggled to get off the ground early on, Temple freshman guard LaKeisha Eaddy sparked the Cherry and White to their largest lead of the half at 31-16 with just over three minutes remaining. Eaddy's 11-point first half performance, on three-for-seven shooting, was complimented by Comfort's 14 points and five rebounds. As the Owls provided more than half of their offensive production (20 points) from inside the paint, Comfort and Eaddy combined to shoot 11-for-13 from the charity stripe. Senior All-America candidate Kamesha Hairston struggled to find her trademark first half rhythm from the field, but managed to add eight points on four-for-10 shooting.
The Owls' front-running style of play can be credited to their stingy defense as Saint Joseph's leading scorer senior guard Ayahna Cornish (15.8 ppg) added just two points, both from the foul line, on one-for-seven shooting. As Cornish struggled, Ffrench led all Hawk scorers with eight points on two-for-four shooting while sophomore guard Jen Oyler posted five points. As both teams traded baskets in the final three minutes, the Owls' 13-point advantage was cut to 11, at 37-26, heading into the intermission as sophomore guard Mary Kate McDade's follow beat the horn.
While the Cherry and White committed four turnovers in their first four trips of the second half, the Hawks cut the advantage to seven, at 37-30, behind back-to-back lay-ins from Cornish and Ffrench. However, a nine minute field goal drought kept the Hawks at bay as Hairston dropped two free throws to push the Temple lead back to 16 with just over five minutes remaining. But, just as Saint Joseph's appear all but done, and as the Owls struggled from the free throw line in the second half shooting 8-for-16, junior guard Timisha Gomez triggered a 9-0 run willing the Hawks right back into the game, at 52-45, with 3:39 remaining.
After the Hawks cut the lead to six following a Brittany Ford lay-in, Hairston sandwiched a back-door basket between four Ffrench points as the Owls held a four-point lead with 52.1 ticks remaining. With the lead at five and just 27 seconds left, sophomore guard Jenna Loschiavo's missed jumpshot was corralled by Temple senior guard Fatima Maddox for the final touch.
Hairston's first half shooting woes continued into the second half as the Toledo, Ohio native finished shooting just 6-for-16 from the floor for 15 points and eight rebounds. Eaddy, running a team-high 36 minutes with Hairston, scored a game-high 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting while adding six rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Ashley Morris collected a season-best 28 minutes and six assists.
Similar to Hairston, Cornish failed to find a comfort zone shooting a dismal 3-for-14 for a season-low six points.
Looking to extend their winning streak to eight games, the Cherry and White begin their Atlantic 10 road schedule Friday, January 12 at noon against St. Bonaventure.
