Temple University Athletics
Temple Falls 65-56 To Villanova In Big Five Opener
12.20.08 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2008
Villanova, Pa.- Shaqwedia Wallace netted a career-high 26 points, including 22 in the second half, but could not save her team as the Temple women's basketball team (5-4, 0-1 Big Five) dropped a 65-56 decision to Villanova (6-4, 2-2 Big Five) on Saturday afternoon. The loss ends Temple's 18-game Big five winning streak and gives the Wildcats a victory over the Owls for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
Shenita Landry had a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points. Wallace dished a team-high three assists, while LaKeisha Eaddy and BJ Williams each chipped in with seven points.
Both teams struggled to get their offense going in the first half, resulting in low shooting percentages and long scoreless stretches. The Wildcats put up 17 three-point attempts, converting on seven, while forcing 11 Temple turnovers. Villanova finished with an 11-for-33 performance from long range.
Eaddy struck first but `Nova answered with three straight treys to take an early 9-2 lead. Landry finally broke TU's two minute scoring drought with a jumper at 17:23 to begin a 5-0 run that made it 9-7 at 16:30. That would be as close as Temple could get, however, as the Wildcats continued to bury three-pointers for the remainder of the half. The Owls didn't help themselves either, with multiple turnovers and bad shot selection. BJ Williams finally got Temple in double figures with a three-pointer at the 13 minute mark and Eaddy drove the lane to make it 16-12 at 11:35 but the Owls went ice cold, failing to score over the next five minutes. Villanova took full advantage, opening up a 10-point lead (22-12) with just over eight minutes to play. Marli Bennett sparked a 6-0 TU run at 6:51, to cut the home team's lead to two (22-20) at the four minute mark. Neither team was able to get much of an offense going over the final four minutes of the half, leaving the score 30-24 in Villanova's favor at the break.
The teams continued their offensive woes in the second half, with neither squad scoring in the first two minutes. Laura Kurz got Villanova on the board with a trey at 17:57 to make it 33-24. Shaqwedia Wallace was Temple's entire second half offense, scoring nine of the Owls' 11 points by the 12:55 mark. Meanwhile, the Wildcats continued to sink three-pointers, opening up a 49-35 lead by 11:25. Wallace continued to chip away at the Wildcats' lead and got her team within six (49-43) with nine minutes to play. Kurz scored four points to make it a 13 points game with five minutes remaining. The Owls desperately tried to keep themselves in the game, going on a 7-0 run, thanks to four straight points by Wallace to make it 56-51 with three and a half minutes left to play. Temple continued to fight, making the Wildcats earn all of their points in the final three minutes from the free throw line for the 65-56 win.
Kurz led three players in double figures with 21 points, while Siobhan O'Conner and Heather Scanlon each had 10 points.
Temple continues its road trip, traveling to Ball State for a Monday night match-up at 7 p.m.
