Women’s games to watch

The team’s opening month contains three Top 25 matchups before A-10 play.

VS. OHIO STATE, NOV. 12

Temple kicks off the 2010-11 season by hosting three-time reigning Big Ten Conference Player of the Year senior center Jantel Lavender and the No. 7 Buckeyes. The Owls will look to make their first big statement of the season by upsetting a solid Buckeyes squad that has won six-straight conference titles. The faceoff is the first in a doubleheader with the men’s team at the Liacouras Center Friday night.

@UCLA, NOV. 28

Junior forward Kristen McCarthy will lead the Owls back to her home state to take on No. 16 UCLA. The Bruins, who return four starters this season, are one of top teams in the Pacific-10. This will prove to be a tough road test for the Owls, but a big win at the historic Pauley Pavilion could set the tone for the following weeks.

@DUKE, DEC. 30

Traveling to Durham to face the No. 6 Blue Devils could be Temple’s toughest test of the season. Duke returns three starters from a team that defeated the Owls, 70-62, in a tight contest last season. This year, the Blue Devils are favored to win the Atlantic Coastal Conference and feature one of the harshest schedules in the nation. Whether Temple can pull off an upset on the road or not, the game is sure to prepare the team for Atlantic Ten Conference play, which begins the following week at Charlotte.

VS. DAYTON, FEB. 19

In what promises to be a crucial A-10 contest, Temple will host the Flyers, who are picked to finish second in the A-10 this season. Dayton welcomes back four starters from a team that made the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament last season, reaching as high as No. 20 in the national polls. If the Owls come out with a win, they could find themselves in position to steal the conference as they head into the final week of the regular season.

VS. XAVIER, FEB. 27

A-10 favorite No. 5 Xavier will visit the Liacouras Center to close out the regular season and possibly even decide the regular season A-10 champion. Led by reigning A-10 Player of the Year Amber Harris, the Musketeers return four starters to a veteran team that won the conference title and made an appearance in the Elite Eight last season. This could be a make-or-break game for the Owls.