Jan. 9, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team dropped its Atlantic 10 opener at Temple, 59-53,Tuesday evening at the Liacouras Center.

Trailing 52-36 with 5:38 remaining in the contest, the Hawks strung together a 13-1 run to cut the Owls deficit to 53-49 on a layup by senior guard Whitney Ffrench with 2:19 left in the game.

Both team exchanged a pair of baskets, with the score 55-51 with 51 seconds left.

On the inbounds, SJU senior guard Ayahna Cornish tipped a half-court inbounds play by Temple into the waiting hands of the Owls' LaKeisha Eaddy, who scampered in for an uncontested layup to seal the game.

In the first half, both teams started very cold as Saint Joseph's led 4-2 on a three pointer by sophomore guard Jen Oyler at the 15:03 mark.

Down two, the Owls went on an 8-0 run, taking a 10-4 advantage on a layup by Kamesha Hairston with 11:44 remaining in the half.

Leading 18-12, Temple opened its biggest lead of the first half, 15, behind a 13-4 run. Eaddy accounted for eight of her team's points, as Hairston put her squad up 31-16.

Saint Joseph's would outscore the Owls 10-6 over the final 3:09 of the period, but Temple took a 37-26 edge into the locker room. The Hawks finished 8-of-23 from the field (34.8 percent) in the opening half, while Temple shot 13-of-27 for 48.1 percent.

Up by seven, 43-36, Temple scored nine straight points to open its biggest lead, 52-36, before the Hawks mounted their comeback attempt.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 18-of-52 from the field (34.6 percent), 2-of-8 from three-point range and 15-of-19 from the foul line (78.9 percent). At the other end, Temple finished 20-of-49 from the floor (40.8 percent) and 19-of-30 from the foul line (63.3 percent).

Individually, Ffrench was the only Hawk to score in double figures, pouring in 16 points.

Lady Comfort paced three Temple players in double figures with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

With the loss, Saint Joseph's falls to 7-7 on the year and 0-1 in the Atlantic 10. Temple moves to 11-4 with the win and 1-0 in conference play.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Friday, January 12, when the Hawks host La Salle. The game time is set for noon and as SJU hosts its annual "Fieldtrip at the Fieldhouse".

Trailing 52-36 with 5:38 remaining in the contest, the Hawks strung together a 13-1 run to cut the Owls deficit to 53-49 on a layup by senior guard Whitney Ffrench with 2:19 left in the game.

Both team exchanged a pair of baskets, with the score 55-51 with 51 seconds left.

On the inbounds, SJU senior guard Ayahna Cornish tipped a half-court inbounds play by Temple into the waiting hands of the Owls' LaKeisha Eaddy, who scampered in for an uncontested layup to seal the game.

In the first half, both teams started very cold as Saint Joseph's led 4-2 on a three pointer by sophomore guard Jen Oyler at the 15:03 mark.

Down two, the Owls went on an 8-0 run, taking a 10-4 advantage on a layup by Kamesha Hairston with 11:44 remaining in the half.

Leading 18-12, Temple opened its biggest lead of the first half, 15, behind a 13-4 run. Eaddy accounted for eight of her team's points, as Hairston put her squad up 31-16.

Saint Joseph's would outscore the Owls 10-6 over the final 3:09 of the period, but Temple took a 37-26 edge into the locker room. The Hawks finished 8-of-23 from the field (34.8 percent) in the opening half, while Temple shot 13-of-27 for 48.1 percent.

Up by seven, 43-36, Temple scored nine straight points to open its biggest lead, 52-36, before the Hawks mounted their comeback attempt.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 18-of-52 from the field (34.6 percent), 2-of-8 from three-point range and 15-of-19 from the foul line (78.9 percent). At the other end, Temple finished 20-of-49 from the floor (40.8 percent) and 19-of-30 from the foul line (63.3 percent).

Individually, Ffrench was the only Hawk to score in double figures, pouring in 16 points.

Lady Comfort paced three Temple players in double figures with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

With the loss, Saint Joseph's falls to 7-7 on the year and 0-1 in the Atlantic 10. Temple moves to 11-4 with the win and 1-0 in conference play.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Friday, January 12, when the Hawks host La Salle. The game time is set for noon and as SJU hosts its annual "Fieldtrip at the Fieldhouse".