(Guru's print story is at philly.com. Kathleen will be at St. Joe's Sunday, the Guru will be at Penn State, hotel prtofiteers on football weekend permitting)
By Kathleen Radebaugh
PHILADELPHIA - Friday night, the Temple Owls won their home opener for the 2008-09 season against Bowling Green, 70-55 at the Liacouras Center.
It felt like a home opener: a rainy fall night in November, more turnovers than wanted, new roles for coaches and players, and most importantly, an updated play list for both the sound system and the roster.
“I didn’t sleep at all last night,” said Tonya Cardoza, the new head coach for Temple’s women’s basketball program. Cardoza was an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut for the past fourteen years and clinched five National Championships.
Now it’s her turn.
“I told the girls that they are crazy not to be nervous,” said Cardoza.
Cardoza comes to Temple with a very talented roster, despite graduating two top scorers last year, Ashley Morris and Lady Comfort.
LaKeisha Eaddy, ’10, is now the starting point guard, a position she is not used to playing but asked to fill-in after the graduation of Morris. Eaddy is quick and has a tremendous amount of energy. Within the first two minutes of the game, Eaddy had a block, two steals, and the first layup of the game. All of this followed by a three point basket, making the score 5-0.
With two fouls by Eaddy and the Owl’s lead expanding, Eaddy subbed out for the middle of the half. She finished the first half with ten points and three steals.
Eaddy quieted down more so in the second half, but still finished the night with sixteen points and three rebounds. Eaddy is a strong, physically fit player, but allowed turnovers to creep up towards the end.
Shenita Landry, ’08, had the complete opposite start to Eaddy. There were missed shots in the paint and at the post, unwanted turnovers, and just frustration overall. Nerves will do that. It’s senior year, and she is an exceptional player but more eyes follow her now.
Cardoza saw that frustration and kept her in. That is probably the best way to fix nerves, just play over them. Landry played the most minutes on the team and in turn, had a purposeful second half.
Landry was consistently strong with her boards, but in the second half her shots started to fall. She made three field goals, three-out-of-four free throws, 10 more rebounds, and two more blocks.
“I focus on going to the glass and working hard everyday,” said Landry. “I need to make the easy baskets and focus on getting better everyday.”
Landry wouldn’t be where she is today if she didn’t already have that kind of work ethic built in.
She had one turnover in the second half. Nerves tend to go away when baskets fall.
With a tough conference and challenging road schedule, Eaddy and Landry need to stay consistent with one another help with the season’s record.
Shanea Cotton, ’08, definitely has the same amount of presence on the court as does Eaddy and Landry. Cotton’s elbow may even need a jersey and number.
Tall, arms that reach to the ceiling of the Liacouras Center, and a powerful stance inside, Cotton finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds, and two very impressive blocks against Bowling Green’s offense.
One of the highlights of Cotton’s game was her attempting three’s, long jump shots, and forcing more turnovers. Cotton didn’t play long because of early foul trouble (it’s her elbow) and then later fouling out with four minutes left in the game, but for 21 minutes she played excellent basketball.
Cotton’s foul trouble could hurt Temple, but Cotton is making every effort to change her mobility and add strengths to her game.
Adding strength is the only concept the Temple bench understands and executes. Bench performance for the Owl’s was exceptional last night. The tempo did not change, the lead kept expanding, and onlookers learned some new names.
“We have so many good players, but we need that bench power,” said Cardoza. “They have to be explosive in their own play.”
A standout was Shaqwedia Wallace. Wallace doesn’t even have her name on her playing jersey. If she keeps playing as well as she did last night, she won’t need it.
Wallace is just a fun player to watch. In 21 minutes, she went four-for-eight from the field, three-for-four in three-point shots, completed both free throw attempts, totaled seven rebounds, and finished the night with 13 points.
Wallace presence off the bench is key for Temple to stay above 40 percent in field goals and continue Temple’s fast pace offense.
When asked if Coach Cardoza will sleep some tonight, she answered, “No, probably not.”
Temple travels to Alabama to play Auburn on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
ia
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