Temple University Athletics
Seniors Shi-Heria Shipp & Natasha Thames
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Post Players Play Key Role in Owls’ Success
12.20.13 | Women's Basketball
by Ed LeFurge, Communications Intern
"When those two guys are playing like that, it's going to be hard to beat us," said Temple University's head women's basketball coach Tonya Cardoza about her two seniors, Natasha Thames and Shi-Heria Shipp.
Thames is coming off a knee injury that sidelined her for most of last season, while Shipp transferred this year from George Washington University.
On the season, Temple sits at 6-3. In the games where both Shipp and Thames score 10 or more points, the Owls are 4-0. When only one of them does, the Owls are 1-2, and when neither of them does, they are 1-1.
"There are certain games where they definitely have a huge advantage because of their athleticism. Whenever those two guys can score for us, they are getting high percentage shots," Cardoza said.
Thursday night against Howard, both of Temple's "bigs" posted career highs in points; Shipp with 22 and Thames with 24.
On the season, Thames has 122 points, averaging 13.6 ppg, whereas Shipp has 104 points with 11.6 ppg. Thus far Thames and Shipp have combined for just over 36% of the Owls' total offense, and according to Cardoza, Thames is the key.
"Tasha has established a post presence I haven't seen from her in a long time," Cardoza said.
"When Tasha is playing like she did today, I don't think there are a lot of people that can stop her one-on-one in the post," Cardoza said. "Tasha is shooting 50-something percent from the floor, so if you can give her the ball on the low block, and let her go to work, I don't think there are a lot of guys that can guard her."
After going 9-of-10 on Thursday night, Thames is shooting 56% from the field this season.
"When those two guys are playing like that, it's going to be hard to beat us," Cardoza said.
The team is set to take on Villanova on Sunday, December 22 at 2 p.m. in McGonigle Hall. The game may just come down to the play of Thames and Shipp.
"When those two guys are playing like that, it's going to be hard to beat us," said Temple University's head women's basketball coach Tonya Cardoza about her two seniors, Natasha Thames and Shi-Heria Shipp.
Thames is coming off a knee injury that sidelined her for most of last season, while Shipp transferred this year from George Washington University.
On the season, Temple sits at 6-3. In the games where both Shipp and Thames score 10 or more points, the Owls are 4-0. When only one of them does, the Owls are 1-2, and when neither of them does, they are 1-1.
"There are certain games where they definitely have a huge advantage because of their athleticism. Whenever those two guys can score for us, they are getting high percentage shots," Cardoza said.
Thursday night against Howard, both of Temple's "bigs" posted career highs in points; Shipp with 22 and Thames with 24.
On the season, Thames has 122 points, averaging 13.6 ppg, whereas Shipp has 104 points with 11.6 ppg. Thus far Thames and Shipp have combined for just over 36% of the Owls' total offense, and according to Cardoza, Thames is the key.
"Tasha has established a post presence I haven't seen from her in a long time," Cardoza said.
"When Tasha is playing like she did today, I don't think there are a lot of people that can stop her one-on-one in the post," Cardoza said. "Tasha is shooting 50-something percent from the floor, so if you can give her the ball on the low block, and let her go to work, I don't think there are a lot of guys that can guard her."
After going 9-of-10 on Thursday night, Thames is shooting 56% from the field this season.
"When those two guys are playing like that, it's going to be hard to beat us," Cardoza said.
The team is set to take on Villanova on Sunday, December 22 at 2 p.m. in McGonigle Hall. The game may just come down to the play of Thames and Shipp.
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