Jan. 21, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle Women's Basketball had a chance to secure at least a share of the Big 5 title and end Temple's reign as Big 5 Champs, but the Owls defeated the Explorers, 62-55, to claim their fifth straight title, Wednesday night at the Liacouras Center.
Despite the loss, La Salle still has a shot at sharing the title with the Owls, as both Saint Joseph's and the Explorers are 2-1 in the City Series. Temple finished 3-1, and which ever team comes out on top on Feb. 11 in a game at Drexel starting at 7:30 PM will be co-champs with the Owls.
Early in the game, the Explorers held a three-point lead after Jamie Walsh knocked down her second three pointer of the night and five minutes in La Salle led 10-7, as Walsh scored eight of her team-high 13 in the span.
Leading still by three after Margaret Elderton hit a 15-foot jumper (14-11), the Owls rattled off the next 14 points to take control of the game. Five different Owls scored in the run, started by a Shaqwedia Wallace three at the 10:45 mark, which tied the game, and capped by a LaKeisha Eaddy driving layup with 6:23 remaining, Temple led 25-14.
Antonia Gale ended the run with a free throw, but Kristie Watkins-Day followed with a short jumper to give Temple its largest lead of the game at 12 with 5:29 left in the half.
La Salle (9-10, 0-4 A-10, 2-1 Big 5) then held the Owls scoreless for the next five minutes, and scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to eight (27-19) with 4:45 left before the break. However, the Explorers also went without a point until the last second, when Nadia Duncan scored on a layup in response to the Owls bucket with 16 ticks left.
Out of the locker rooms down 29-21, La Salle scored the first four points to get within four, and after Ashley Gale converted a pair of free throws with 15:25 left in the game, the Explorers trailed 33-31.
Temple (11-6, 3-1 A-10, 3-1 Big 5) answered with a 6-0 run - and again three different Owls scored baskets - with Shenita Landry putting her team up 39-31 with 12:51 remaining.
The Explorers again chipped away at their deficit, with some help from the three-point basket. Down 41-33, La Salle used an 11-5 run, which included threes from Ashley Gale, Tara Lapetina, and Antonia Gale to again get the contest to a one possession game.
However, 13 seconds after Gale made it 46-44, Wallace drained a three to start an 8-0 Temple run and La Salle would get no closer the rest of the way.
Walsh led the Explorers with 13 points, Ashley Gale added 12 with two steals, Morgan Robertson chipped in nine points, and Elderton registered a career-high nine assists, with six boards and five points.
Temple was led by Landry's double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Wallace had 14 and Eaddy added 13 points and eight assists. The Owls were aided by 16 offensive rebounds, opposed to La Salle's four, which they turned into a 16-0 advantage in second-chance points.
La Salle is next in action at Fordham with a 1 PM start.
