March 4, 2012

Photo Gallery

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Third-seeded Dayton held off a frantic Temple comeback to claim a narrow 66-63 victory in the semifinals of the 2012 A-10 Women's Basketball Championship, Sunday afternoon at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena on the campus of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. With the win, the Flyers earn a spot in Monday's Championship finale against top-seeded St. Bonaventure (29-2).

Temple took an early 4-0 lead following a Victoria McCauley layup and jump shot. Dayton responded by scoring seven consecutive points to take the lead 7-4.

With the score standing at 18-16 with 8:43 remaining in the first half, the Flyers went on an 8-0 run that saw the lead increase to ten points. Sparking the run was back-to-back three pointers by sophomore Cassie Sant.

After a quick 30 second time-out, Temple's Shey Peddy responded with a three-pointer of her own to bring the deficit down to seven.

The Owls went into the half continuing to trail Dayton by seven, 36-29. Temple began the second half hitting four of its first five shots, including a Brittany Lewis three-pointer at the 17:01 mark, to tie the score at 38-38.

With 12:46 remaining, Dayton's Ally Mallot pushed the Dayton lead back to three with a layup. Next trip down the court, Temple immediately responded as BJ Williams hit a three-pointer to knot things back up at 46-46.

Temple's Kristin McCarthy gave Temple its first lead since the 10:29 mark in the first half after hitting three-pointer that put Temple back on top, 49-46.

Dayton responded to Temple's comeback with an 11-0 run that lasted more than five minutes in time, and was punctuated by a Samantha Mackay three-pointer.

Williams ended Temple's scoreless streak at the line by hitting a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to six. Dayton's Patrice Lalor hit a jump shot next time down the court for the Flyers, restoring the lead to seven.

Minutes later, Temple scored on consecutive possessions, a Brittany Lewis three-pointer and a Shey Peddy layup, to make the score 61-56.

Temple continud to crawl back as they whittled the lead down to one, 64-63, after both Victoria McCauley and BJ Williams hit a pair of free throws and Brittany Lewis scored a layup for the Owls.

Trailing 64-63, with less than one minute left in the game, Temple's Victoria Macaulay had the potential go-ahead basket fall of the front of the rim before the rebound was corralled by the Flyers. Dayton's Andrea Hoover sunk a pair of the free throws at the line to seal Dayton's 66-63 victory.

Three Flyers reached double-figures as Justine Raterman led the way with 16 points and eight rebounds. Temple's Brittany Lewis led all scorers with 19 points and 13 rebounds.