Record Set in Reunion of Coaches

Tuesday, January 28

McGonigle Hall

7 PM

Temple University

10-10,4-5Amer.

CONNECTICUT

22-0, 9-0Amer.

#1 Connecticut

TEMPLE

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Record Set in Reunion of Coaches

1.29.14 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

by Ed LeFurge, Communications Intern

On November 30, 1991, Temple women's basketbal had a crowd of 1,900 in McGonigle Hall. It has been almost 23 years since the Owls have seen a crowd that large in their home arena.

That all changed when the top-ranked UConn Huskies, Tonya Cardoza's former team, came into town Tuesday night. A record attendance of 2,030 packed the stands.

The Temple head coach loved having such a large and energized crowd.

"I was excited about all of the people that came out, that was a great feeling and the support that we had," Cardoza said. "I definitely felt like they were behind us from start to finish."

Some will argue that the crowd played a significant role in the Owls ability to perform well, and Cardoza will agree. Early in the game the Owls were down 18-4 and then came back to take the lead 23-22.

"I definitely feel like that was part of the reason why we were able to come back. They were loud and really into it, and I feel like our players really fed off of that," Cardoza added. "I'm hoping they keep coming out and supporting us."

Cardoza isn't the only one who enjoys having support, so do her players.

"I love it. I love the fan support. Anytime we have the fan support we want to do it for them and ourselves and for the name of Temple," said junior guard Rateska Brown.

"I love it, too. I feed off that energy," said freshman center Taylor Robinson. "When I hear them chant, it just makes me more excited and more into the game."

Not only was this a record-setting game, but it was also the first game that Tonya Cardoza faced her former team on the Owls home court. From 1994-2008, Cardoza was an assistant coach for the Huskies, under Geno Auriemma. In her 14 years there, Cardoza helped coach the team to two Sweet 16 appearances, four Elite Eight appearances, three Final Four appearances, and five National Championships.

"I love what they do, I love the way they play," said Auriemma. "Her kids never back down, and I'm happy for her; she has done a tremendous job down here."

Cardoza holds a lot of respect for Auriemma.

"I'm not going to say that he is like a father figure, because he would probably be mad at that because he's not that old. But he is someone who is dear to my heart," Cardoza said. "I would do anything for him. I've always said there are only a couple people who could say something bad about him, anybody else I'm going to fight to the end for him. He is someone that I trust with everything. He is the reason why I am here, and we will be best of friends for a lifetime. He's a mentor and just someone who is really, really special to me."

Since coming to Temple, Cardoza has built quite the resume. With an overall record of 117-67, she has won her fair share of awards. Cardoza was named Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in 2011.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The 2,030 fans that attended Tuesday's game were a record crowd at McGonigle Hall for a women's basketball game. The previous record was 1,900 fans against No. 2 Virginia on Nov. 30, 1991.

The Owls' attendance record at the Liacouras Center is 7,892 fans against No. 20 Rutgers on Dec. 13, 2004. The TU women also played before 9,370 fans against Massachusetts on Feb. 12, 2012, in a double-header with the men's team at the Liacouras Center.