PHILADELPHIA (November 12) - Athena Christoforakis (17), Regan Apo (15), Christena Hamilton (15) and Melissa Dunne (10) all scored in double figures as the Temple's women's basketball team defeated the University of Latvia 88-74 in an exhibition game at McGonigle Hall Sunday afternoon. In the final tune-up before the regular season, the new-look Owls raced out to an 8-1 lead and were only threatened briefly in the game when the visitors heated things up from beyond the arc. Down the stretch, Hamilton and Apo took over the game and erased any thoughts of an upset by the visitors.

Temple opens the regular season on Friday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. against Lehigh at the Liacouras Center. The game marks the official debut of head coach Dawn Staley.

Starting at point guard for the Owls was Dunne, a junior, who dished out 12 assists and added six steals to her double figure point production. Sophomore Christine Cruz notched seven points and 11 rebounds for Temple in the victory. The Owls forced 29 turnovers and collected 15 steals for the game and finished the exhibition part of their schedule, 2-0. Anete Jekabsone led the University of Latvia with 39 points, including 12 from three-point range.