Temple Women's Basketball Wins 17th Straight Big 5 Game With 70-67 Victory Over Saint Joe's

Jan. 30, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Senior Lady Comfort nailed two free throws with six-tenths of a second remaining to give Temple women's basketball its fifth consecutive win, 17th consecutive win in Big 5 play and a share of the 2008 title, with a 70-67 victory over Saint Joseph's on Wednesday evening at the Liacouras Center.

Temple improved to 12-10 overall, 3-0 in the Big 5, and 5-1 in A-10 action, while Saint Joseph's fell to 10-10 overall, 1-2 in the Big 5, and 2-3 in the A-10.

"Anytime we get together, we make it a barn-burner," TU head coach Dawn Staley. "Any team could have won. Our team erased my mistake of getting a technical foul. I'm very proud of them."

The Hawks scored the first basket and led again at 4-2 but never reclaimed the lead. TU took its first lead on a three pointer by freshman Lindsay Kimmel. The Owls went on an 8-0 run to lead 15-7. SJU battled back to within tow, 25-23, on a trey by Amy Wold. SJU closed out the half with a 7-2 run to hold a nine-point advantage at the break, 34-25. LaKeisha Eaddy and Lady Comfort led the Owls with 10 first-half points, combining for a perfect 10-for-10 from the line.

In the second half, Temple opened with the first bucket to go ahead by 11 points, 36-25. SJU whittled its way back, coming within two, 53-51 with 7:02 remaining, on back-to-back threes by Wold and Amy Gilllespie. The Hawks tied the game at 57-57 and twice more before taking their first lead of the half, 65-64. After some confusion over a foul by the officials, a call was reversed with :45.6 to go, irritating Staley, who was immediately slapped with a technical. Wold made the first of the technical free throws. Ford then went 0-2 from the charity stripe, giving TU the ball back. Point guard Ashley Morris drove the lane and was blocked, giving Comfort the rebound and go-ahead jumper, 66-65. Shenita Landry stole the ball and was fouled. She converted both shots, putting TU up by three, 68-65 with 13.7 seconds to go. Brittany Ford made a lay-up to pull SJU within one, 68-67, before Comfort nailed the game-winning free throws.

Comfort finished with a game-high 24 points, including a career-best 12-of-13 from the line. Morris followed with 14 points and five assists, while Eaddy had 12 points. Landry grabbed a career-high six steals.

Wold, who came off the bench, led SJU with 21 points. Ford followed with 19, while Sarah Asker had 10.

Overall, Temple shot 48.9 percent (23-47) from the floor, while Saint Joe's shot 52.0 percent (26-50). TU was 78.6 percent (22-28) from the line, and SJU was 46.2 percent (6-13). The Owls committed 16 turnovers while forcing SJU into 26 turnovers. SJU out-rebounded Temple, 33-23. Temple grabbed a season-high 16 steals.

"Our defense can be very disruptive," Staley said of her team's steals. "We put it all together tonight."

Temple travels across town to LaSalle on Saturday, Feb. 2 for a 1 p.m. game. A Temple win would give the Owls the outright Big 5 title, becoming the first team in city series history to win four straight Big 5 titles.