Temple University Athletics
Temple to Face Xavier in Semi-final Round of A-10 Women's Tournament
3.4.07 | Women's Basketball
March 3, 2007
CINCINNATI, OH-Second seeded Temple (24-6) will face host and third seed Xavier (24-7) on Sunday in the semi-final round of the Atlantic 10 women's tournament. The game will be televised nationally on CSTV at 2:30 p.m.
This is the 16th meeting between Temple and Xavier. The Owls lead the series, 8-7, and have taken the last six meetings. The Owls narrowly edged the Musketeers, 59-58, earlier this season behind 21 points and 13 rebounds from Comfort.
Kamesha Hairston led four Owls in double figures with 19 points as Temple (24-6) posted a 84-60 win over St. Bonaventure (16-15). Hairston scored 15 points in just 15 first-half minutes, while Fatima Maddox added 14 points, 10 of which came in the first half. LaKeisha Eaddy and Candice Borrows each netted 10 as head coach Dawn Staley earned her 150th career win. The Owls used a 51.5% shooting clip to lead by as many as 29 points in the second half. They out-rebounded the Bonnies, 42-29, to mark the 14th game of the season that Temple has out-rebounded its opponent by more than 10 boards. Shenita Landry led Temple with eight rebounds, while Ashley Morris dished a game-high four assists. Hairston added four steals, seven rebounds and three assists to her admirable 22 minute performance. Lady Comfort tied her career high of four blocks in just 19 minutes of action.
Hairston leads Temple in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.3 ppg and 8.7 rpg. Comfort is second with 12.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg. Maddox is third, averaging 11.5 ppg. Eaddy continues to put up great numbers, with the guard fourth in scoring (7.2 ppg) and first in assists (112).
A win tonight would advance Temple to their fourth staight A-10 final against the winner of the Saint Joseph's/George Washington semifinal game on Monday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
Amber Harris poured in a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting and had three steals in the game's final three minutes to lead Xavier past Saint Louis, 64-63. Suntana Granderson scored 13 points and chased down six boards. Senior Joei Clyburn scored 10 points and swatted a pair of shots.
Photo Finish
Temple and Xavier have a storied history of close games in the squad's last few meetings. Earlier this season, the Owls narrowly edged the Musketeers, 59-58, in Philadelphia. On Jan. 22, 2006, TU defeated XU, 67-62, thanks to 22 points and five blocks by Candice Dupree. During the 2004-05 season, Kamesha Hairston netted 31 points and earned herself a spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays with a basket at the buzzer to give the Owls a 64-62 win.
