(Guru's note: This is the raw copy sent to the office for print coverage and potentially will be sliced for space considerations. This version adds the permutations of the Big Five race for the rest of the season.)
By Mel Greenberg
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Months ago Villanova’s Laura Kurz had her team’s Big Five game against Temple at the Pavilion circled on her calendar.
Saturday the Wildcat senior keyed a direct hit on the target with 21 points on the way to a 65-56 victory that snapped a record 18-game win streak by the Owls in City Series competition.
Kurz’s effort was the 13th performance with 20 or more points by the former Germantown Academy star since transferring from Duke two seasons ago.
“It’s disappointing that we lost two Big Five games this year,” Kurz said. “But it’s great to beat Temple. Obviously, they’re a great team and any Big Five win is a great win for us.
“It almost went down to the wire at the end so being able to come out on top – we’ve had a lot of close games this year and they haven’t all gone well for us so it’s nice to come home with a win.”
Villanova (6-4, 2-2 Big Five) finished the round-robin at .500. Had the Wildcats not lost to La Salle in overtime in the season opener and to St. Joseph’s in triple overtime, they would be celebrating a title.
Instead, the race becomes wide open among the Owls (5-4, 0-1), St. Joseph’s, and La Salle.
Temple could still add to their record string of four straight outright Big Five titles at 4-0 could win a fifth straight outright at 3-1 if La Salle loses to Penn and Temple, while St. Joseph's most lose to Temple and La Salle.
Either La Salle or St. Joseph's as of now could go unbeaten to claim a title. It could be that their will be a tie involved by the time the competition ends next month.
Saturday's loss ruined the Big Five debut of Temple coach Tonya Cardoza and was perhaps her most painful setback to date.
“Definitely,” Cardoza agreed. “The fact there was an 18-game win streak on the line and we let it get away from us was disappointing.”
Ironically, back in December of 2000, Villanova also ruined the Big Five debut of Cardoza’s friend and Temple predecessor Dawn Staley on a day Wildcats coach Harry Perretta gained his 400th career victory.
In Saturday’s game, Villanova’s Heather Scanlon, a graduate of Cardinal O’Hara, tied a career-high with 10 points. Wildcats senior Siobhan O’Connor also scored 10 points.
Temple’s Shaqwedia Wallace had a game-high 26 points, while Shenita Landry grabbed 10 rebounds.
Villanova opened with a surge of three-pointers, spurring the Wildcats to a 22-12 lead with 8 minutes, 19 seconds left in the first half. But the Owls rallied with an 8-0 run to move within a basket at 22-20 before the home team went into the halftime break ahead, 30-24.
The Wildcats built a 14-point lead nearly midway through the second half before the Owls again shaved the deficit.
But a combination of missed layups and a game total of 20 turnovers was costly for Temple.
“We kept giving ourselves chances to get back in the game,” Cardoza said. “We couldn’t get on the offensive boards. We missed 31 shots and came away with only eight offensive rebounds.”
Perretta summed up his team’s efforts, saying, “We like to make these games exciting. We got a little lucky but we needed some luck so I guess it evens out.”
Villanova will host Delaware Monday while Temple travels to Ball State.
-- Mel
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