Women’s basketball drives toward NCAA tournament

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Women’s basketball drives toward NCAA tournament
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

CONTACT: Karen Shuey
	For the Temple Times

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito / Temple University

Senior guard Fatima Maddox eyes the rim as she drives toward the basket, avoiding the reach of a St. Louis player during last week’s final home game of the season at the Liacouras Center. The Colorado native scored nine points during the game to lead the Owls to a 74-64 win, improving their overall record to 21-5.

For the past two years, Temple has been considered a sure bet to reach the NCAA women’s tournament. With two games left in the Atlantic-10 Conference season, the hope for postseason play still hangs in the balance.

So far, things look bright.

After winning their 19th game in the last 21 outings Sunday against Charlotte, the Owls remain unbeaten in conference play at 12-0, and their overall record stands at 22-5. But the season’s future will depend on more than just stats — it will most likely come down to a showdown with unbeaten George Washington for the conference title.

On Friday night, the Owls will take on Duquesne in Pittsburgh with hopes that a victory will help build momentum for a very important game on Sunday against old rival George Washington.

While the last two games are on the road, the highly anticipated battle at George Washington will be televised on CSTV, available on cable by request and also online through www.owlsports.com, at 2 p.m.

If the Owls win their game against George Washington, they will clinch the regular-season conference title and it will give them a No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament.

And even if the team loses the conference tournament, it’s possible — even probable — that Temple would be given an at-large bid, which would put the team into a pool, chosen by NCAA committee members, to be given a place in the tournament.