Temple University Athletics
Temple Falls Short in Comeback Against Florida State, 86-67
12.7.08 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple women's basketball mounted a second-half comeback against Florida State, but the Owls couldn't overcome a double-digit deficit in a 86-67 loss to the Seminoles on Sunday afternoon at the Liacouras Center.
The Owls stand 4-3 on the season, while the Seminoles improved to 7-2.
FSU jumped on the scoreboard first, taking a 4-0 lead. The Seminoles quickly grabbed a double-digit lead, going ahead by 10 points, 12-2, on a three-pointer by Alysha Harvin. Mara Freshour netted seven of FSU's first nine points.
Plagued by poor shooting and foul trouble, the Owls only scored 17 points by halftime, their lowest output in the first stanza this season. TU shot a mere 21 percent from the floor, including 0-7 from three-point range, and had 14 turnovers. Starters Shanea Cotton and Shenita Landry got into early foul trouble and sat ou,t while their younger teammates took charge on the floor. Florida State led by 28 points at intermission, 45-17.
In the second half, TU trailed by as many as 31 points, 53-22 with 16:38 to go. Then the Owls made their move. Started with three-point bucket from sophomore Lindsay Kimmel, Temple went on a 9-2 run over a three-minute span to cut the lead to 24 points, 53-29. But the Owls weren't finished. After trading baskets, TU went on another 9-2 run with another three by Kimmel to pull the Owls within 18 points, 72-54. Temple cut the lead to 15 points twice in the last four minutes, but couldn't get any closer.
"I don't want them to forget this," said first-year Temple head coach Tonya Cardoza. "Florida State is a good team. They were more physical than we were, and we got into foul trouble. Our guards had to step up."
Junior LaKeisha Eaddy led the Owls with 16 points. Junior Kristie Watkins-Day followed with a career-high 11 points, while senior Shanea Cotton finished with 10 points.
"They were very aggressive and physical," Eaddy said.
Harvin and Tanae Davis-Cain led the Seminoles with 20 points each. Harvin went a perfect 9-for-9 from the line. Fleshour added 16 points.
Temple improved its shooting in the second half, going 16-of-36 for 44 percent. Overall, FSU out-rebounded Temple, 46-40. The Owls committed 21 turnovers while forcing 18. Both teams went to the free throw line more than 30 times. FSU finished 25-of-39 (64 percent), while TU went 21-of-32 (66 percent).
"It's not going to happen overnight," Cardoza said of fixing her team's free throw shooting and turnovers. "We just need to make sure we take care of the ball."
Temple concludes its five-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 10 when the Owls host Toledo at 7 p.m. at the Liacouras Center.
