Down by nine points in the middle of the first half and coming off a discouraging loss to Villanova, the Penn women's basketball team needed a great performance from senior forward Jewel Clark to have any hope of coming back against Temple.
Clark delivered.
The Quakers' go-to player ruined the Owls' hopes of a victory with a season-high 30 points, 12 rebounds and four steals as Penn tallied a surprising road win against its Big 5 rival, 70-64, last night at the Liacouras Center.
Clark's performance moved her into third place on Penn's all-time scoring list.
The Red and Blue could not match Temple's size inside, and Owls center Candice Dupree nearly matched Clark shot-for-shot, finishing with 29 points. But the Quakers (3-3, 1-2 Big 5) began to neutralize Dupree by doubling and sometimes tripling down inside, and Temple (2-2, 0-1 Big 5) had no answer for Penn's 55 percent second half shooting performance.
"Composure was the biggest thing for us," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said. "I thought early on we were a little anxious. They jumped up 15-6, and from that point on we slowed things down and executed. Obviously there were times when Jewel just kinda took it, which is always a good thing."
Anything Clark did was almost always a great thing last night, as she took over the game on both sides of the court, rebounding over the taller Dupree and slicing through the Owls' defense with ease.
"Defensively we didn't get it done," said Temple coach Dawn Staley, who is also an all-star player for the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. "Anybody that was playing Clark was told, 'you cannot relax at any time on the floor. The moment you relax she'll make you pay.'"
Dupree was dominant early, as the Owls strode confidently to an 18-9 lead. For the first 10 minutes it looked like the Quakers would be manhandled by a more physically imposing Temple squad.
Penn turned things around with a ferocious full-court defense, led by junior guard Amanda Kammes and freshman guard Joey Rhoads, who combined for steals on three straight Temple possessions. Back-to-back threes by junior guards Maria DiDonato and Cat Makarewich cut the lead to 25-24. Penn went ahead just before halftime on two Clark free-throws and took a 29-27 lead into halftime.
Temple started the second half strong, as Dupree and senior Tynecia Pam got Clark into foul trouble and had their way inside.
Greenberg responded by instructing her team to collapse around Dupree and force other Temple players to make shots. The Owls' offense wasn't the same for the rest of the game.
Two straight fast-break layups by Clark and DiDonato gave the Quakers the lead for good at 63-62, and a beautiful exhibition of team passing led to Makarewich's second three, which gave Penn a 68-64 lead with 1:08 remaining.
It was a very satisfying win for the Quakers, who celebrated on the Liacouras Center floor after the game in front of stunned Owls fans.
Clark was excited about the confidence this victory will give her team both on and off the court.
"We always want to show that we can compete, especially in Big 5 games," Clark said. "This is an opportunity to show that just because we go to Penn, you shouldn't overlook us. And it is exam time, so you definitely want to feel good about yourselves. We needed that, 'cause we're gonna be up late some nights."
