Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
It's Never Easy Saying Goodbye - Four Women's Basketball Seniors Make Their Mark on Senior Night
2.22.12 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Before they took to the court at McGonigle Hall, four members of the women's basketball team first walked the red carpet.
As members of 2011-12 graduating class, seniors Joelle Connelly, BJ Williams, Shey Peddy and Kristen McCarthy were honored for their tenures as Owls just before tip-off in the team's game against cross-town rival Saint Joseph's.
Each senior, led by family or former coach escorts, was greeted at halfcourt by head coach Tonya Cardoza and Temple Athletics Director Bill Bradshaw where she received a frame with her jersey mounted above a plaque inscribed with her name and photo.
Kristen McCarthy carried the Owls early in the game with 18 points in the first half, including a run where she scored eight consecutive points for Temple.
“In the first half, Kris definitely put us on her back,” Cardoza said of the La Puente, Calif., native. “She carried us through the first half when we struggled because of the way Saint Joseph's was defending us.”
It was the same story but with a different main character in the second half, when fellow senior and the reigning U.S. Basketball Writers Association Women's National Player of the Week, Shey Peddy, went on an offensive tear. Peddy exploded for 24 points in the second half, feeding off of McCarthy's early energy to tie her career-high 31 points on the special night.
“In the second half, Shey put us on her back and did the same thing,” Cardoza said of the other half of the dominating duo who combined for 50 of Temple's 75 points.
Cardoza also gave credit to BJ Williams, who ended the night with eight assists, just two shy of her career high.
“BJ was obviously distributing the ball well. In the second half we were able to get some transition buckets to open it up, so that was big for us,” she said.
Williams, who currently leads the A-10 with 132 assists, is averaging 5.0 assists per game in this -- her final -- season. She was a force to be reckoned with on the glass as well, posting five rebounds in her 36 minutes.
Joelle Connolly, the fourth and final member of Cardoza's senior class, contributed some timely buckets for the Owls -- including a jumper in the first half that broke a 15-15 tie -- to tally six points on the night.
When asked about next year's team nucleus, Cardoza didn't mince words.
“With this group, we're obviously losing a lot. We're losing four of our five starters. Shey can score, she can play defense. With BJ and Joelle, what they were able to contribute is going to be a big loss for us,” she said.
But perhaps what will hurt the Owls the most in the offseason is the graduation of their leader in McCarthy, who ended the night two points shy of overtaking fourth place on Temple's all-time scoring list.
“What Kris has been able to do for this university with the scoring and the rebounding and more so just the person that she is -- that's going to be the biggest piece that we're going to miss,” Cardoza said. “You can always find someone to score and rebound, but the person that she is and how she represents the University is going to be the biggest thing to replace.”
Luckily for Cardoza, it's not time to say goodbye just yet. The Owls still have a list of things left to accomplish -- one that includes an A-10 title and a run deep in the NCAA Tournament, they hope.
“It's been a while since we've had an A-10 championship,” McCarthy said. “If we come out and play hard the next few games like I know we can, it's definitely a goal we can reach. We're eager to get out there. We really want to bring one home.”
But when the time to bid adieu to her seniors and send them off into post-grad life finally does come?
“It'll be a sad day,” Cardoza said reluctantly.
by Kami Mattioli, Owlsports.com Columnist
As members of 2011-12 graduating class, seniors Joelle Connelly, BJ Williams, Shey Peddy and Kristen McCarthy were honored for their tenures as Owls just before tip-off in the team's game against cross-town rival Saint Joseph's.
Each senior, led by family or former coach escorts, was greeted at halfcourt by head coach Tonya Cardoza and Temple Athletics Director Bill Bradshaw where she received a frame with her jersey mounted above a plaque inscribed with her name and photo.
Kristen McCarthy carried the Owls early in the game with 18 points in the first half, including a run where she scored eight consecutive points for Temple.
“In the first half, Kris definitely put us on her back,” Cardoza said of the La Puente, Calif., native. “She carried us through the first half when we struggled because of the way Saint Joseph's was defending us.”
It was the same story but with a different main character in the second half, when fellow senior and the reigning U.S. Basketball Writers Association Women's National Player of the Week, Shey Peddy, went on an offensive tear. Peddy exploded for 24 points in the second half, feeding off of McCarthy's early energy to tie her career-high 31 points on the special night.
“In the second half, Shey put us on her back and did the same thing,” Cardoza said of the other half of the dominating duo who combined for 50 of Temple's 75 points.
Cardoza also gave credit to BJ Williams, who ended the night with eight assists, just two shy of her career high.
“BJ was obviously distributing the ball well. In the second half we were able to get some transition buckets to open it up, so that was big for us,” she said.
Williams, who currently leads the A-10 with 132 assists, is averaging 5.0 assists per game in this -- her final -- season. She was a force to be reckoned with on the glass as well, posting five rebounds in her 36 minutes.
Joelle Connolly, the fourth and final member of Cardoza's senior class, contributed some timely buckets for the Owls -- including a jumper in the first half that broke a 15-15 tie -- to tally six points on the night.
When asked about next year's team nucleus, Cardoza didn't mince words.
“With this group, we're obviously losing a lot. We're losing four of our five starters. Shey can score, she can play defense. With BJ and Joelle, what they were able to contribute is going to be a big loss for us,” she said.
But perhaps what will hurt the Owls the most in the offseason is the graduation of their leader in McCarthy, who ended the night two points shy of overtaking fourth place on Temple's all-time scoring list.
“What Kris has been able to do for this university with the scoring and the rebounding and more so just the person that she is -- that's going to be the biggest piece that we're going to miss,” Cardoza said. “You can always find someone to score and rebound, but the person that she is and how she represents the University is going to be the biggest thing to replace.”
Luckily for Cardoza, it's not time to say goodbye just yet. The Owls still have a list of things left to accomplish -- one that includes an A-10 title and a run deep in the NCAA Tournament, they hope.
“It's been a while since we've had an A-10 championship,” McCarthy said. “If we come out and play hard the next few games like I know we can, it's definitely a goal we can reach. We're eager to get out there. We really want to bring one home.”
But when the time to bid adieu to her seniors and send them off into post-grad life finally does come?
“It'll be a sad day,” Cardoza said reluctantly.
by Kami Mattioli, Owlsports.com Columnist
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