Temple University Athletics
Temple Routs Duquesne, 72-43, For Eighth Straight Win
2.23.07 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2007
PITTSBURGH, PA.-Ashley Morris netted 14 points in 24 minutes, including 10 in the second half, to lead Temple to a 72-43 win over the Duquesne Dukes on Friday night. Kamesha Hairston added 12 points and Jasmine Stone grabbed 12 boards as Temple improved to 23-5 and 13-0 in the Atlantic 10. Temple was consistently dominant on the boards, out-rebounding the Dukes 50-19. Duquesne drops to 7-19 overall and 2-11 in Conference play.
After overcoming a first half that Head Coach Dawn Staley claimed to be "like watching her worst nightmare," the Owls were able to get their eighth straight win and stay undefeated in Atlantic 10 play. Though the Cherry and White shot 52% from the field in the first half, they made just 11 shots (11-for-21) and committed 18 turnovers to put together one of the worst offensive performances of the season. Luckily, Duquesne wasn't much better, making just nine field goals (9-of-29) and grabbing just eight rebounds. Temple committed just six second-half turnovers and scored 44 second stanza points to rebound from the devastating first half.
Neither team was able to get its offense going in the opening minutes, with the first field goal not taking place until 17:42. The Owls got their first two points off of free throws by Shenita Landry just 20 seconds into the contest but a series of missed shots and turnovers held the Cherry and White without a field goal until Fatima Maddox drove the lane at 16:30. The Dukes took advantage of their sluggish opponents, taking an early 6-4 lead. With the starting five unable to produce, Staley decided to clear the bench early. The next few minutes looked somewhat like a Harlem Globetrotters game, with Temple racking up seven turnovers and Duquesne unable to score. As ugly as it was, the reserves were actually able to keep pace with the Dukes' starting line-up, thanks to a six minute Duquesne scoring drought, and the Owls went on top 12-8 at 10:15. When the starting five finally returned, the game didn't get much better. Temple produced five more turnovers, allowing the Dukes to keep it close. The Owls finally seemed to get a bit of an offensive rhythm going in the closing minutes of the half, putting together an 11-9 run and taking a 28-21 lead at the break.
Temple came busting out of the locker room and started to play the kind of basketball that it is known for. A Hairston jumper at 18:56 sparked a 16-0 run, giving Temple a 44-21 lead with just under 14 minutes to play. With the Owls rolling along, Staley decided to clear the bench, but for a much different reason than in the first half. A trey by Jocelyn Chandler at 12:42 finally got the Dukes on the second half board but the damage had already been done and Temple was able to keep at least a 16-point advantage throughout the rest of the game. Ashley Morris had a large hand in preserving the Owls' lead, scoring 10 straight points to make it 68-43 with just under two minutes to play. Candice Borrows sank two treys in the closing minutes to end the game with a 72-43 result.
Lady Comfort added nine rebounds, eight of which were defensive. Nicole Pittman and Borrows added eight points a piece in the win. Chandler was the lone Duke in double figures, scoring 13 points. Amanda Peck grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
Temple wraps up the 2006-07 regular season when it travels to top-ranked George Washington on Sunday. The #9/9 Colonials are currently tied with the Owls for the top spot in the A-10 with a 13-0 record. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. on CSTV.
