Temple University Athletics
Temple Rolls Over Richmond, 65-52
2.21.09 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Temple women's basketball held off a feisty Richmond team, rallying to a 65-52 win in Atlantic 10 Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Liacouras Center.
The Owls improved to 18-8 overall and 9-3 in the Atlantic 10, while the Spiders fell to 19-8 overall and 7-5 in A-10 play.
The first half was a physical battle. The Owls scored the first bucket, but the Spiders responded by going ahead by four, 8-4. Junior LaKeisha Eaddy scored on a breakaway to pull within one, 8-7. The teams swapped baskets over the next eight minutes. UR center Crystal Goring scored 10 points in the first eight minutes and then was held scoreless for the remainder of the half. Eaddy nailed a three to tie the game at 18-18, and then TU went on a 6-0 run to take its first lead, 24-20 with 6:15 to go in the half. Richmond held a two-point edge at intermission, 28-26.
Freshman Kristen McCarthy, who started the game but sat out with two early fouls, tied the game with a jumper, 28-28, to open the second half. UR never led again. Temple utilized a series of runs, including a 10-2 clip, and stellar defense to pull ahead by double digits. The Owls led by as many as 15 points before claiming the 13-point victory.
"We were a little sloppy in the first half," TU head coach Tonya Cardoza said. "We got into early foul trouble. In the second half, McCarthy gave us a boost."
Eaddy led Temple with 21 points. Senior Shenita Landry followed with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the 13th double-double of her career. Senior Shanea Cotton finished with nine points and three blocks. Sophomore Shaqwedia Wallace also had nine points.
"I told them to be patient and `take your time'," Cardona said of her halftime chat.
Goring was the top Spider with 19 points. Johanna McKnight followed with 15 points, while Brittani Shells rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points.
"Our goal was to shut down their perimeter shooters," Cardoza said.
Overall, Temple out-rebounded Richmond, 38-35. Temple shot 49 percent (25-51) from the field, while the Spiders shot 32 percent (20-62). After shooting 43 percent in the first half, Richmond shot a dismal 22 percent in the second half. The Owls went 60 percent from the free throw line (12-20), while UR shot 92 percent (12-13).
Temple hosts No. 17 Xavier (23-4, 11-0 A-10) on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in the home finale. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The game will be televised by CBS College Sports. The Senior Class will be honored during a pre-game ceremony.
"We're definitely excited and happy to win this game," Cardoza said. "Obviously, we have to take care of the ball, and our post players have to be more into the game. We're just trying to put ourselves into a position for a top four seed for the (Atlantic 10) tournament."
