Temple University Athletics
Friday, November 8
Tom Gola Arena
7 PM
Temple University
at
La Salle
Sophomore Erica Covile
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Women's Basketball Opens Season in Big 5 Showdown at La Salle
11.4.13 | Women's Basketball
GAMENOTES
THIS WEEK
Temple opens the season with two road contests. The Owls' first stop is at cross-town rival La Salle in Philadelphia Big 5 action on Friday, Nov. 8. Tip-off at Tom Gola Arena is set for 7 p.m.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
The Owls, under sixth-year head coach Tonya Cardoza, return seven letterwinners, including three starters, to the line-up.
JUST FOR OPENERS
Temple, which opens its 72nd season of women's basketball since 1924 and its 40th season since it began NCAA play in 1974, is 4-1 in season openers under Tonya Cardoza. Since 1995, the Owls are 14-4 in season openers. Since 1974, Temple is 23-16 in season openers. TU is 46-25 all-time in season openers.
SCOUTING LA SALLE
The Explorers, under the guidance of four-year head coach Jeff Williams, return just four letterwinners and no starters from a year ago. In the teams' last meeting on Jan. 27, 2103, at McGonigle Hall, the Explorers claimed a 71-55 win to snap a 14-game TU series winning streak and to take a one-game series edge, 21-20, since the teams' first meeting in 1976. Senior Victoria Macaulay led the Owls with a double-double of 19 points and 15 boards, while Meghan Roxas (Ridgewood, N.J.) added 11 points off the bench. Temple out-rebounded La Salle, 45-28.
EXHIBITION ACTION
Temple sharpened its skills on Nov. 2 with a 116-59 win over West Chester in exhibition action at McGonigle Hall.Â
Six players netted double-figure scoring, including the five starters. Freshman guard Feyonda Fitzgerald led the Owls with 23 points and seven assists, while sophomore guard Erica Covile added 19 points. Seniors Natasha Thames and Shi-Heria Shipp each recorded double-doubles. Thames finished with 17 points and 12 boards, while Shipp had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
WHO'S BACK
Junior Tyonna Williams (Fort Washington, Md.) is the top returning scorer from last season. One of just two players to play and start all 32 games, the 5-6 guard averaged 9.4 points per game while dishing out a team-best 161 assists.
Senior Natasha Thames (Port Huron, Mich.) follows. Last season the 6-0 forward averaged 7.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Sophomores Erica Covile (Canton, Mich.), May Dayan (Ashdod, Israel), and Meghan Roxas saw action last season on the nation's second-youngest team. Covile played in 16 games with seven starts and averaged 4.6 points. Dayan played in 30 games with six starts and chipped in 1.7 points. Roxas played in 30 games with 11 starts and averaged 3.5 points.
Guard Monaye Merritt (Philadelphia, Pa.) returns for her sophomore season after sitting out last year with a knee injury. As a true freshman in 2011-12, she played in 23 games off the bench and averaged 1.7 points.
SHIPP TRANSFERS TO TEMPLE
Fifth-year senior Shi-Heria Shipp (Salisbury, N.C.) joins the Owls this season after four seasons at former A-10 rival George Washington. In 2012-13 the 5-10 guard started 20 games and was the Colonials' third-highest scorer with 9.6 points per game.
Shipp, who received her bachelor's degree in sociology from GW in May 2013, is pursuing a master's degree in adult & organizational development at Temple. She was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the 2010-11 season with a knee injury.
MEET THE FRESHMEN
Temple welcomes three freshmen to the squad this season. Guard Feyonda Fitzgerald (Norfolk, Va.), center Safiya Martin (Fayetteville, Ga.), and center Taylor Robinson (St. Louis, Mo.) hope to make an immediate impact.
The 5-7 Fitzgerald was a part of two Virginia state championship teams at Lake Taylor HS. The VHSCA AAA Girls' Hoops State Player of the Year in Virginia last season, Fitzgerald set the state tournament scoring record with 96 points in three games. She averaged 22.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg as a senior.
The 6-4 Martin made two consecutive appearances in the Georgia state championship game. A Class AAAA Honorable Mention All-State selection by the Georgia Sportswriters Association, Martin was also an All-Conference pick.
The 6-4 Robinson was a 2013 McDonald's All-America nominee. Named the Suburban East Player of the Year as a junior, she averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game.
CARDOZA'S LEADERSHIP
In her sixth season at the helm of Temple women's basketball is Tonya Cardoza. In five seasons, she's led the Owls to four post-season berths, including three NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year and three-time Big 5 Coach of the Year notched her 100th career win last season at St. Bonaventure (1/13/13).
Prior to taking the reigns at TU from former college teammate Dawn Staley, Cardoza spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach at Connecticut with Geno Auriemma. During her tenure, the Huskies captured five national championships.
UP NEXT
Temple continues its two-game road trip to open the season with a stop at Delaware on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Tip-off at the Bob Carpenter Center is slated for 7 p.m. The Owls' home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 16 against Auburn at 6 p.m. in McGonigle Hall.
THIS WEEK
Temple opens the season with two road contests. The Owls' first stop is at cross-town rival La Salle in Philadelphia Big 5 action on Friday, Nov. 8. Tip-off at Tom Gola Arena is set for 7 p.m.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
The Owls, under sixth-year head coach Tonya Cardoza, return seven letterwinners, including three starters, to the line-up.
JUST FOR OPENERS
Temple, which opens its 72nd season of women's basketball since 1924 and its 40th season since it began NCAA play in 1974, is 4-1 in season openers under Tonya Cardoza. Since 1995, the Owls are 14-4 in season openers. Since 1974, Temple is 23-16 in season openers. TU is 46-25 all-time in season openers.
SCOUTING LA SALLE
The Explorers, under the guidance of four-year head coach Jeff Williams, return just four letterwinners and no starters from a year ago. In the teams' last meeting on Jan. 27, 2103, at McGonigle Hall, the Explorers claimed a 71-55 win to snap a 14-game TU series winning streak and to take a one-game series edge, 21-20, since the teams' first meeting in 1976. Senior Victoria Macaulay led the Owls with a double-double of 19 points and 15 boards, while Meghan Roxas (Ridgewood, N.J.) added 11 points off the bench. Temple out-rebounded La Salle, 45-28.
EXHIBITION ACTION
Temple sharpened its skills on Nov. 2 with a 116-59 win over West Chester in exhibition action at McGonigle Hall.Â
Six players netted double-figure scoring, including the five starters. Freshman guard Feyonda Fitzgerald led the Owls with 23 points and seven assists, while sophomore guard Erica Covile added 19 points. Seniors Natasha Thames and Shi-Heria Shipp each recorded double-doubles. Thames finished with 17 points and 12 boards, while Shipp had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
WHO'S BACK
Junior Tyonna Williams (Fort Washington, Md.) is the top returning scorer from last season. One of just two players to play and start all 32 games, the 5-6 guard averaged 9.4 points per game while dishing out a team-best 161 assists.
Senior Natasha Thames (Port Huron, Mich.) follows. Last season the 6-0 forward averaged 7.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Sophomores Erica Covile (Canton, Mich.), May Dayan (Ashdod, Israel), and Meghan Roxas saw action last season on the nation's second-youngest team. Covile played in 16 games with seven starts and averaged 4.6 points. Dayan played in 30 games with six starts and chipped in 1.7 points. Roxas played in 30 games with 11 starts and averaged 3.5 points.
Guard Monaye Merritt (Philadelphia, Pa.) returns for her sophomore season after sitting out last year with a knee injury. As a true freshman in 2011-12, she played in 23 games off the bench and averaged 1.7 points.
SHIPP TRANSFERS TO TEMPLE
Fifth-year senior Shi-Heria Shipp (Salisbury, N.C.) joins the Owls this season after four seasons at former A-10 rival George Washington. In 2012-13 the 5-10 guard started 20 games and was the Colonials' third-highest scorer with 9.6 points per game.
Shipp, who received her bachelor's degree in sociology from GW in May 2013, is pursuing a master's degree in adult & organizational development at Temple. She was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the 2010-11 season with a knee injury.
MEET THE FRESHMEN
Temple welcomes three freshmen to the squad this season. Guard Feyonda Fitzgerald (Norfolk, Va.), center Safiya Martin (Fayetteville, Ga.), and center Taylor Robinson (St. Louis, Mo.) hope to make an immediate impact.
The 5-7 Fitzgerald was a part of two Virginia state championship teams at Lake Taylor HS. The VHSCA AAA Girls' Hoops State Player of the Year in Virginia last season, Fitzgerald set the state tournament scoring record with 96 points in three games. She averaged 22.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg as a senior.
The 6-4 Martin made two consecutive appearances in the Georgia state championship game. A Class AAAA Honorable Mention All-State selection by the Georgia Sportswriters Association, Martin was also an All-Conference pick.
The 6-4 Robinson was a 2013 McDonald's All-America nominee. Named the Suburban East Player of the Year as a junior, she averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game.
CARDOZA'S LEADERSHIP
In her sixth season at the helm of Temple women's basketball is Tonya Cardoza. In five seasons, she's led the Owls to four post-season berths, including three NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year and three-time Big 5 Coach of the Year notched her 100th career win last season at St. Bonaventure (1/13/13).
Prior to taking the reigns at TU from former college teammate Dawn Staley, Cardoza spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach at Connecticut with Geno Auriemma. During her tenure, the Huskies captured five national championships.
UP NEXT
Temple continues its two-game road trip to open the season with a stop at Delaware on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Tip-off at the Bob Carpenter Center is slated for 7 p.m. The Owls' home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 16 against Auburn at 6 p.m. in McGonigle Hall.
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