Dec. 6, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Alesia Howard scored a career-high 13 points and matched her career-best six rebounds, but the visiting Temple Owls took advantage of 10 3-pointers and 14 second-chance points to shoot down Ohio, 75-48, Monday night in the Convo.
The Owls (5-4), a perennial NCAA Tournament qualifier and Atlantic 10 power, took advantage of their long range shooting and key second-chance opportunities to make decisive runs at the beginning of the game and the end of the first half.
Temple converted on 14 second-chance points and won the rebounding battle 43-14 while converting on 43.8 percent from beyond the arc in the opening half. The `Cats (2-5), meanwhile, shot a solid 39 percent from the field and got 19 points from their bench. Ohio did a good job defensively on the Owls' leading scorer, Qwedia Wallace, limiting her to 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Howard's (Columbus, Ohio) 13, including a 7-for-10 effort from the charity stripe, paced the Green and White, while Carolyn Barnett (North Chicago, Ill.) pitched in eight points to go with a season-high four rebounds. Tenishia Benson (Akron, Ohio) and Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) each added six points, while Benson picked up five rebounds and Fowler dished out a season-best five assists.
Temple raced out to a 12-0 advantage out of the gates behind a pair of treys. The `Cats came clawing back into it with six unanswered points to make it 12-6 after a Barnett jumper, but the Owls built their lead back up to 12. Ohio again answered toward the end of the opening frame with a 9-3 run behind a big trey from Fowler and three points from Howard to pull within 28-24 with 3:10 remaining in the half. Temple, unfortunately, finished out the frame with a decisive 12-1 run to take the momentum and a 40-25 lead into the lockerroom.
Ohio managed to stay within that margin for the first couple minutes of the second half, before Temple took advantage of second-chance points and some costly Bobcat miscues to take its largest lead of the game at 68-38 with 7:35 left. The `Cats were unable to get closer than 25 the rest of the way as the Owls took the 75-48 decision.
Four Temple players scored in double digits, led by 16 apiece from Kristen McCarthy and Shey Peddy, who also knocked down four treys. Victoria Macaulay added 13 points, while Wallace chipped in 10.
Ohio will look to bounce back Thursday as it welcomes in-state foe Wright State to the Convo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
