SJU Athletics Photos

PHILADELPHIA (02/02/01) ­ Angela Zampella handed out 11 assists to move past current Temple head coach Dawn Staley on the NCAA's career assist list, but strong shooting second half lifted the Owls (12-7, 5-3 A-10) to a 60-55 victory over St. Joseph's (11-10, 5-5 A-10) at the Liacouras Center. Temple shot the lights out in the second stanza connecting on 69% of their attempts from the floor and 71% from three-point range. The win was just the fourth by Temple over SJU since 1990 and snapped a five-game Hawk winning streak in the series. "They're a tough team. We knew coming in that this was going to be a game," said Hawk head coach Reggi Grennan. "I think that the big difference with them is that they are playing with a ton of confidence…They're playing well." Coming out of the break, SJU trailed by a bucket, 23-22. The lead changed hands several times in the early going of the second half, before the Owls found their range. Keyed by the long-range attack of Reagan Apo, TU turned a three-point lead into a ten-point advantage and never looked back. Apo, who scored 16 of her 18 points in the second period, knocked down consecutive three-pointers midway through the period, which served to swing the momentum. Susan Moran, who struggled in the first half, battled to keep the Hawks within striking distance down the stretch. She finished with 18 points, 14 coming after intermission. She was supported by a career-high 16-point effort by Amra Mehmedic. The Hawks, however would be unable to get any closer than four points as the clock ticked down, finally succumbing 60-55. After getting off to a hot start, SJU held the lead through most of the first half. Jane Meade scored six points to spark the Hawks from the opening tap, as the Crimson and Gray opened up a ten-point lead, less than six minutes into the game, 12-2. The visitors, however, than hit a cold spell of their own. Over the next 11 minutes, St. Joseph's scored just a pair of field goals and Temple clawed back to reclaim the lead 18-17 at the 3:55 mark. The teams proceeded to trade baskets as the half wound down and Temple led at the break by a single point. Zampella came into the contest with 724 career assists, five behind Staley's 729. The Hawk senior moved past her on a nifty drive, spin and dish out to Mehmedic, who drained a three-pointer from the right side. Zampella now has 735 and holds sole possession of 25th place in the NCAA record book. The Hawks will have to regroup quickly as they take to the court again on Sunday afternoon. SJU will host the Rhode Island Rams at 2:00 p.m. The Crimson and Gray defeated URI earlier this season at Keaney Gymnasium, 55-34.