Temple University Athletics
Temple Women's Basketball Drops 68-54 Decision to Florida
1.5.08 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2008
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PHILADELPHIA - Temple women's basketball lost its third consecutive game with a 68-54 decision to Florida in the Owls' last non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at the Liacouras Center.
Temple fell to 7-9 overall, while Florida improved to 11-4 overall.
The Gators jumped out to a quick 10-point lead, 11-1, holding the Owls to just one free throw over the first seven minutes of action. Senior Lady Comfort scored TU's first bucket at 13:19. Freshman Lindsay Kimmel added a three to put the Owls within seven, 13-6. But then Florida continued to rack up points, pulling ahead by 18 points, 28-10 with 6:37 remaining. Temple made a run at the end of the half, scoring on back-to-back possessions to come within 11 points, 38-27, at intermission, sparked by another three from Kimmel.
The Owls scored the first basket after halftime to come within nine points, 38-29, but that's as close as they would get. Florida continued to build upon its double-digit lead, going ahead by as many as 19 points, 68-49.
Starters sophomore LaKeisha Eaddy and Comfort came off the bench for 14 points each. Comfort also grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
"We needed to be productive," TU head coach Dawn Staley said of shifting her starting line-up. "We went with players who've been waiting in the wings to get us started."
"We were not in trouble," Comfort added with a laugh. "Coach just wanted to see how we'd play off the bench. I got to see the pace of the game first. We were more hungry coming off the bench."
Four Gators netted double figures, led by Sha Brooks' 23 points. She went a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. Marshae Dotson added 16 points and a team-high nine boards.
"We're just making the game really hard," Staley said the three straight losses. "We're just not playing as well as a team. We're using our individual talents. We have to use each other."
Overall, Temple out-rebounded the Gators, 38-34. The Owls shot 35.7 percent from the field, while Florida shot 43.9 percent. TU committed 23 turnovers.
Temple has a week-long break before traveling to Dayton on Saturday, Jan. 12 for its Atlantic 10 Conference opener. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
"It's helped us in the past," Staley said of her tough non-conference schedule. "But we're not going to rely on it. I'm encouraged going into our conference and putting our players on the court."
