Temple University Athletics
Temple Women's Basketball Educates Fordham, 59-43
2.4.09 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2009
Bronx, N.Y.- LaKeisha Eaddy scored 20 points to lead three players in double figures as the Temple womens basketball (14-7, 5-2 A-10) team posted a 59-43 victory over the Fordham Rams (7-15, 0-7 A-10) on Wednesday afternoon at the Rams School Day. Shenita Landry recorded her 10th career double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds and Shanea Cotton had 15 points.
Eaddy added four assists and three steals. Temple edged Fordham on the boards, 37-36, including 20 offensive rebounds. Kristen McCarthy filled up the stat sheet with six rebounds, four points, three assists and three steals. Cotton also had six boards.
The Owls dominated from the first whistle, beginning the game with a 17-2 run and allowing the Rams just five first half field goals and forcing 11 turnovers. Temple struggled to make shots in the second half, however, forcing it to do the work at the free throw line and on the boards in order to maintain its lead. The Cherry and White made just 35% of their shots but made 10-of-15 from the charity stripe and forced 19 Ram miscues.
Temple must have been feeding off of the energy from the thousands of screaming school children, as the Owls put together a 17-2 run to begin the game. After failing to score for seven minutes, the Rams went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to eight points (17-9) with just under 10 minutes to play. Temples defense began to tighten up, forcing multiple Fordham turnovers and poor shots and allowing the visitors to increase their lead to 17 points (30-13) with 1:33 remaining. Temple continued to dominate and took a 32-16 lead at the break.
The Rams struck first in the second half but Eaddy answered with a jumper at 18:46 to preserve the 16 point Temple lead. Temple continued to dominate on the offensive glass and increased its lead to as many as 18 points (38-20) by the 15 minute mark. The Rams refused to back down, however, and put together an 8-0 run to get within eight points (45-37) by 8:33. That would be as close as they could get, as Temple made six straight free throws to increase its lead to 15 points (56-41) with two minutes remaining. Eaddys three-pointer with 11 seconds left allowed Temple to finish with a 59-43 victory.
Annie Zopf led Fordham with 15 points and Randall Hurst added 12. Tiffany Stokes grabbed 10 rebounds.
Temple returns home to face St. Louis on Sunday at noon in the first game of a mens and womens doubleheader.
