Temple University Athletics
Cardoza Earns First Career Win As Temple Women's Basketball Tops Bowling Green, 70-55
11.14.08 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2008
PHILADELPHIA- The Tonya Cardoza era began with a bang as the Temple women's basketball team (1-0) posted a commanding 70-55 win over visiting Bowling Green (0-1) on Friday night Four Temple players reached double figures to give Cardoza her first career win, led by junior LaKeisha Eaddy's 16 points. Senior Shenita Landry posted a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, while Shaqwedia Wallace had career-highs of 13 points and seven rebounds. Shanea Cotton had 12 points to round out the double-figure scoring.
I'm so excited, Cardoza said of her first career win. I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep last night but once the game started, I knew we would be okay We have a big game coming up [against Auburn on Monday] but I’m definitely going to take these next two days to savor this win.
The Owls shot 40.9% from the floor, while holding the Falcons to just a 26.7% shooting clip and forcing 19 turnovers. Bowling Green struggled throughout the game, making just 16 field goals. The visitors had an especially tough time in the first stanza, shooting just 17.4% from the field.
The game started slow, with neither team able to score on its first few trips down the floor. Eaddy's lay-up at 18:39 gave the Owls their first points of the 2008-09 season and began a 7-0 run to put TU on top. Jen Uhl finally got Bowling Green on the board at 13:38 but the dominant Owls continued to roll, taking an 18-5 lead by the nine minute mark. The Falcons suffered long scoreless stretches, allowing the Owls to extend their lead by as many as 15 points (24-9) with five minutes to go. A trey by Lauren Prochaska at 3:36 finally got Bowling Green in double figures but it was too little, too late as the Owls took a 28-18 lead going into the break.
Bowling Green began the second half scoring at 19:51 to cut Temples lead to eight (28-20) but that would be as close as they could get, as the Owls went on an 8-3 run to make it 36-23 at 16:25. The Falcons struggled to keep pace with the Cherry and White, as the home team increased its lead by as many as 17 points en route to the 70-55 victory.
Eaddy added a game-high four steals and two assists in her debut as point guard. Landry was dominant on both ends of the floor, adding a game-high four assists and three blocks to her impressive performance. Freshmen BJ Williams and Kristen McCarthy also had admirable debuts. Williams had three assists and McCarthy added three rebounds and four points.
Temple next travels to Auburn to take on the 20th-ranked Tigers on Monday at 7 p.m.
