Temple University Athletics
Thursday, December 31
McGonigle Hall
2:00 PM
Temple University
vs
Duke
Women's Basketball Will Face #8/9 Duke on New Year's Eve at McGonigle Hall
12.30.09 | Women's Basketball
10-2 Owls gearing up to face their first of three nationally-ranked teams in a row
Game Notes vs. Duke
PHILADELPHIA - At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31 at McGonigle Hall, the Temple women's basketball team will face its first nationally-ranked team this season in a contest against #8/9 Duke. The teams have identical overall records at 10-2.
Fans can watch a live internet stream of the game at OwlAccess and view live stats here.
SERIES RECORD
Temple has never beaten Duke over four attempts since 1998. The most recent loss was a season ago in Durham, 87-52. The two teams have never met in Philly. Two of the four contests were in Durham, and the other two were at neutral sites. The closest of the four meetings was a 10-point, 62-52 loss the Owls suffered in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on March 20, 2007.
TAKING A LOOK AT TEMPLE
Earlier this week, Temple rebounded with a 55-43 win at Akron after recently suffering only its second loss of the season against Villanova on Dec. 20. That loss snapped a four-game win streak, but the Owls are now 10-2 which is the best start for the program since the 1981-82 team started 13-1.
Junior Qwedia Wallace is leading the Owls so far with 13.5 points per game, which ranks eighth in the A-10. Senior Jasmine Stone leads the team in rebounds at 8.7 per game, good enough for second place in the A-10. Stone was named the Big 5 Player of the Week two weeks ago after averaging a double-double in Temple's three wins the previous week. Sophomore Kristen McCarthy, a preseason A-10 third team pick, is the second-leading scorer to Wallace with 10.8 ppg.
Joining Wallace, McCarthy and Stone in the starting lineup have been senior LaKeisha Eaddy (8.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and junior Marli Bennett (5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Sophomore BJ Williams is Temple's leading player off the bench, averaging 6.6 points per game, followed by freshman Natasha Thames (4.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) who spent the first six games of the season in the starting lineup.
SCOUTING DUKE
Perennial national power Duke is currently ranked eighth in the AP Poll and ninth in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. The Blue Devils are 10-2 and have victories over two ranked teams, Ohio State and James Madison. Their only losses are to ranked teams as well, Texas A&M and Stanford. Duke's most recent outing was one for the history books as far as offensive output, as the Blue Devils defeated N.C. Central 117-28. Two players average in double figures for Duke, led by Jasmine Thomas with 15.7 points per game.
HOT START
Temple's 10-2 start matches the best in 28 years, since the 1981-82 team started 13-1 before losing its second game.
NOW ACCEPTING CHARITY
Temple did not shoot above 70 percent from the free throw line in five of its first eight games, but the Owls have improved drastically since then. Temple has averaged 80 percent shooting from the charity stripe in its last four games, going 53-of-66 from the line.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
The Owls are 2-1 all-time on New Year's Even, most recently earning an 84-69 win vs. Mississippi in 2001.
TEMPLE VS. THE POLLS
While Temple is only 12-86 all-time against ranked opponents, seven of those wins have come in the last five years. The Owls are 7-16 since the 2004-05 season. Their most recent win vs. a ranked opponent was Feb. 25 of this year against #13 Xavier.
AS COLD AS THE WEATHER
The day after a blizzard hit Philadelphia, the Owls were just as cold from the field in a 44-32 loss to Big 5 rival Villanova on Dec. 20. Not a single player scored in double figures for Temple, whose point total was nearly the lowest in the history of the program. The Owls shot just 19 percent from the field, and lost after holding a 16-11 lead at halftime.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Prior to the Villanova loss, Temple had been ranked 30th (by votes) in both the AP?and ESPN/USA Today Polls. The Owls are no longer receiving votes inthe AP Poll, but are still receiving 6 votes in the ESPN/USA Today Poll.
BJ BREAKS OUT
Sophomore BJ Williams was charged with filling in for an injured Qwedia Wallace on Dec. 12 at Kent State, and responded by lighting it up from the floor en route to scoring a career-high 23 points in the win. Williams was 10-of-18 including two three-pointers. She also tallied a career-high 4 steals while dishing out 3 assists.
HEIGHTENED SECURITY
Temple has held 10 of its 12 opponents this season to 55 points or fewer, and currently ranks 16th in NCAA Division I in scoring defense at 52.4 ppg.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Temple has found a major threat on the glass in senior Jasmine Stone, who was unavailable for the Owls in the non-conference portion of the last two seasons with eligibility issues. Stone ranks first on the team, fourth in the A-10 and 52nd in the nation with 8.7 rebounds per game.
HIDE YOUR VALUABLES
The Owls have a knack for coming up with the ball and forcing turnovers, as evidenced by their 11.7 steals per game which is tops in the A-10 and 25th in NCAA Division I. Temple's 20 team steals at Dartmouth were the most in a single game for any A-10 team so far this season.
RPI IN THE TOP 25
Temple is currently 24th in the nation in RPI according to realtimerpi.com, and 25th according to CollegeRPI.com.
NEXT UP...
Temple's current stretch is likely the toughest of any team in the nation. After today's contest vs. #8/9 Duke, the Owls will wrap up the non-conference season by facing #12/11 Florida State on the road. Temple will open its A-10 season on the road at #15/13 Xavier.
PHILADELPHIA - At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31 at McGonigle Hall, the Temple women's basketball team will face its first nationally-ranked team this season in a contest against #8/9 Duke. The teams have identical overall records at 10-2.
Fans can watch a live internet stream of the game at OwlAccess and view live stats here.
SERIES RECORD
Temple has never beaten Duke over four attempts since 1998. The most recent loss was a season ago in Durham, 87-52. The two teams have never met in Philly. Two of the four contests were in Durham, and the other two were at neutral sites. The closest of the four meetings was a 10-point, 62-52 loss the Owls suffered in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on March 20, 2007.
TAKING A LOOK AT TEMPLE
Earlier this week, Temple rebounded with a 55-43 win at Akron after recently suffering only its second loss of the season against Villanova on Dec. 20. That loss snapped a four-game win streak, but the Owls are now 10-2 which is the best start for the program since the 1981-82 team started 13-1.
Junior Qwedia Wallace is leading the Owls so far with 13.5 points per game, which ranks eighth in the A-10. Senior Jasmine Stone leads the team in rebounds at 8.7 per game, good enough for second place in the A-10. Stone was named the Big 5 Player of the Week two weeks ago after averaging a double-double in Temple's three wins the previous week. Sophomore Kristen McCarthy, a preseason A-10 third team pick, is the second-leading scorer to Wallace with 10.8 ppg.
Joining Wallace, McCarthy and Stone in the starting lineup have been senior LaKeisha Eaddy (8.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and junior Marli Bennett (5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Sophomore BJ Williams is Temple's leading player off the bench, averaging 6.6 points per game, followed by freshman Natasha Thames (4.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) who spent the first six games of the season in the starting lineup.
SCOUTING DUKE
Perennial national power Duke is currently ranked eighth in the AP Poll and ninth in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. The Blue Devils are 10-2 and have victories over two ranked teams, Ohio State and James Madison. Their only losses are to ranked teams as well, Texas A&M and Stanford. Duke's most recent outing was one for the history books as far as offensive output, as the Blue Devils defeated N.C. Central 117-28. Two players average in double figures for Duke, led by Jasmine Thomas with 15.7 points per game.
HOT START
Temple's 10-2 start matches the best in 28 years, since the 1981-82 team started 13-1 before losing its second game.
NOW ACCEPTING CHARITY
Temple did not shoot above 70 percent from the free throw line in five of its first eight games, but the Owls have improved drastically since then. Temple has averaged 80 percent shooting from the charity stripe in its last four games, going 53-of-66 from the line.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
The Owls are 2-1 all-time on New Year's Even, most recently earning an 84-69 win vs. Mississippi in 2001.
TEMPLE VS. THE POLLS
While Temple is only 12-86 all-time against ranked opponents, seven of those wins have come in the last five years. The Owls are 7-16 since the 2004-05 season. Their most recent win vs. a ranked opponent was Feb. 25 of this year against #13 Xavier.
AS COLD AS THE WEATHER
The day after a blizzard hit Philadelphia, the Owls were just as cold from the field in a 44-32 loss to Big 5 rival Villanova on Dec. 20. Not a single player scored in double figures for Temple, whose point total was nearly the lowest in the history of the program. The Owls shot just 19 percent from the field, and lost after holding a 16-11 lead at halftime.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Prior to the Villanova loss, Temple had been ranked 30th (by votes) in both the AP?and ESPN/USA Today Polls. The Owls are no longer receiving votes inthe AP Poll, but are still receiving 6 votes in the ESPN/USA Today Poll.
BJ BREAKS OUT
Sophomore BJ Williams was charged with filling in for an injured Qwedia Wallace on Dec. 12 at Kent State, and responded by lighting it up from the floor en route to scoring a career-high 23 points in the win. Williams was 10-of-18 including two three-pointers. She also tallied a career-high 4 steals while dishing out 3 assists.
HEIGHTENED SECURITY
Temple has held 10 of its 12 opponents this season to 55 points or fewer, and currently ranks 16th in NCAA Division I in scoring defense at 52.4 ppg.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Temple has found a major threat on the glass in senior Jasmine Stone, who was unavailable for the Owls in the non-conference portion of the last two seasons with eligibility issues. Stone ranks first on the team, fourth in the A-10 and 52nd in the nation with 8.7 rebounds per game.
HIDE YOUR VALUABLES
The Owls have a knack for coming up with the ball and forcing turnovers, as evidenced by their 11.7 steals per game which is tops in the A-10 and 25th in NCAA Division I. Temple's 20 team steals at Dartmouth were the most in a single game for any A-10 team so far this season.
RPI IN THE TOP 25
Temple is currently 24th in the nation in RPI according to realtimerpi.com, and 25th according to CollegeRPI.com.
NEXT UP...
Temple's current stretch is likely the toughest of any team in the nation. After today's contest vs. #8/9 Duke, the Owls will wrap up the non-conference season by facing #12/11 Florida State on the road. Temple will open its A-10 season on the road at #15/13 Xavier.
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