Temple University Athletics
Temple Women's Basketball Falls, 73-50, To Charlotte In Atlantic 10 Semifinal
3.8.09 | Women's Basketball
March 8, 2009
CHARLOTTE- Sophomore Lindsay Kimmel scored 10 straight second half points to pull her team out of a double-digit deficit but Charlotte (22-8) proved to be too strong, topping the Temple womens basketball team (21-9), 73-50, in the semi-final round of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Tournament on Sunday. Kimmel was the lone double figure scorer for the Owls, who dropped just their second game in 12 contests.
Kristen McCarthy scored nine points, while Jasmine Stone was TU's top rebounder for the second straight game, grabbing seven. Shaqwedia Wallace finished with eight points and three steals.
Temple struggled for most of the game, going scoreless for various stretches of time and shooting just 34.5% from the field. The 49ers came out strong from the first whistle, making nearly 47% of their shots and out-rebounding the Owls, 44-29.
Shanea Cotton began the game with a three-pointer at 18:40 but Charlotte answered with a 5-0 run to take an early lead at the 17 minute mark. The Owls were unable to score over the next five minutes allowing the 49ers to increase their lead to seven (10-3) by the 13 minute mark. Shenita Landry's two free throws at 13:45 gave the Owls their first points in five minutes but Charlotte continued to roll and took a 13-point lead (18-5) with 12 minutes remaining. Stone's lay-up at 11:51 gave Temple just its second field goal of the game and began an 11-1 run to close the gap to three points (16-19) with just under 10 minutes to go. Charlotte soon got back on track, however, and used an 11-4 run to make it a six-point game with six minutes to go. As Temples game began to break down, Charlotte continued to roll and took as much as a 13 point lead (37-24) with just over two minutes to go. LaKeisha Eaddy broke Temples two minute scoring drought with a lay-up at 2:03 but that would be the Owls final bucket of the half, as Charlotte walked into the locker room with a 39-26 advantage.
Temple committed a turnover to begin the second stanza, allowing Charlotte to extend its lead to 17 points (43-26) just a minute and a half into the half. McCarthy made the second half of two free throws at 18:36 to give TU its first points but it wasn't until the 15 minute mark that the Owls even made a field goal. Charlotte cooled off a bit, allowing the Owls to climb back in the game, thanks to 10 straight points by Kimmel. The sophomore sharp shooter hit three straight treys and one free throw to make it a nine point contest, 47-39, with just under 11 minutes to play. Charlotte soon learned to contain Kimmel and used a 17-5 run to make it a 21 point game (65-44) with just over four minutes remaining. Temple tried desperately to make a run but could only get as close as 17 before falling, 73-50
Traci Ray led all scorers with 16 points, including a 4-of-5 performance from long range, while Danielle Burgin had a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Aysha Jones and Brittany Carter chipped in with 10 points apiece.
The Owls, who currently have an RPI of 27, will now wait to see if they have done enough in the NCAA Womens Basketball Committees eyes to earn an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Selection Monday is set for March 16.
