PENNSAUKEN, NJ -- The Temple women's crew team saved its best race for its last of the day at the 2006 Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Rowing Championships Saturday on the Cooper River.  The Owls' Varsity 8 finished a close second to George Washington in the headline race of the A-10 Regatta, held under high winds and a steady rain.

The Temple Varsity 8, comprised of freshman Laura Altimari (bow), sophomore Amanda Barr (2), junior Rachel Jordan (3), junior Lauren Fattori (4), senior Kristen Herrmann (5), senior Nicole Warrick (6), senior Ulana Luciw (7), junior Stephanie Hanlin (stroke) and senior Sarah Evancho (cox), battled the Colonials to the wire before being edged at the finish by a mere 0.9 seconds.  The Owls bested third-place Dayton by two seconds in the most exciting race of the day.  Massachusetts, who won its 11th straight A-10 Championship, placed fourth in the Varsity 8 with Saint Joseph's and Rhode Island rounding out the six-team race.

The Owls, under the direction of second-year head coach Tim Hagan, placed fifth in the Quad and sixth in the Novice 8A, earning two points in each race for a total of 12 on the day to finish seventh overall.  The Quad was comprised of senior Emily Smith (box), junior Kate Guth (2), sophomore Laura Austin (3) and junior Nicole Toner (stroke).

The Novice 8, under the direction of first-year coach Jen Wesson,  was comprised of freshman Juliana Rausch (bow), freshman Maria DiChiacchio (2), freshman Laura Scullin (3), freshman Carolyn Bailey (4), freshman Katie Reiersen (5), freshman Meghan Shirley (6), sophomore Katie Hoban (7), freshman  Jess Herrmann (stroke) and freshman Jill Ploof (cox).

Temple next takes to the water Saturday, April 29 when it participates in the City Championships on the Schuylkill River.