University of Toledo
WICHITA STATE
Toledo Falls at Wichita State, 72-58
11/29/2003 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WICHITA, KS - The University of Toledo women's basketball team fell at Wichita State, 72-58, in its road opener Saturday afternoon before 1,648 fans at the Charles Koch Arena.
With the setback, the Rockets fall to 1-2 on the season, while the Shockers improve to 2-1.
Toledo had three players in doubles figures, with senior Julie Hillis leading the way with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals. Junior Karin Hoogendam and senior Mary Blessing chipped in with 12 points apiece. Hoogendam ripped down a team-best eight rebounds, while Blessing dished out three assists.
The Shockers also had three players in double-figures, with April Banks and Tisharria Huggins leading the way with 16 points each. Banks finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and eight steals. Antionette Wells had 15 points and eight rebounds, while Angela Buckner led the Shockers in rebounds with a game-high 12 boards.
Wichita State utilized a balanced attack on both sides of the ball to deny the Rockets a victory in their road opener. The Shockers shot 51 percent (29-of-57)from the field, while their defense limited Toledo to 32.3 percent (20-of-62)shooting, recorded 16 steals and forced 19 turnovers.
"I think a lot of their field goals came off layups," Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen said. "We would press and they would break it and drive in and score. If you look at a shot chart, there weren't too many shots taken outside of the lane for them, it was all inside. You are going to shoot a good percentage with looks like that."
After the teams traded three-point baskets to open the game, WSU's Huggins scored on a jumper, which gave the home team a 5-3 advantage, a lead the Shockers would not surrender. The Shockers then went on a 7-0 run capped by a three-point play by Wells to push their lead to 10-3 lead with 16:25 left in the first half.
The Shockers would add to their lead with a Huggins three-pointer to extend the lead to 15-5. Refusing to back down, Toledo would answer with two free throws by Hoogendam to close the Shocker margin to eight points at 15-7.
WSU would again extend their margin thanks to a mini 5-0 run to make the score 20-7 with 13:28 remaining in the first half. Toledo then turned the tables on the Shockers and went on an 11-0 run of their own, capped by back-to-back baskets by Hoogendam to close the lead to 20-18 with 6:47 left in the first half.
The squads would trade baskets for much of the remainder of the first half before Toledo senior Kelly Walker would make a jumper to trimmed the Shocker lead to 31-25 with 2:12 left before halftime. Walker would then miss the front-end of a one-and-one, and WSU's Huggins capitalized with a successful one-and-one trip to the free throw line that gave the Shockers a 33-25 lead with under a minute left in the first half. Huggins then finished off the first half with a steal and a layup to give the Shockers a 35-25 lead at the break.
In the second half, Toledo did not get within six points of Wichita State, thanks in part to a 16-for-27 shooting effort (59.3 percent) from the floor by the Shockers after the intermission, while also forcing eight UT turnovers.
"Their defensive pressure was their best offense, especially in the second half," Ehlen said. "Time and time again we would turn the ball over 25-feet from the basket and they would go in for a layup. Or we would try and press and they would go in for a layup. Their ability to create offense out of their defense was a big factor."
Toledo returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 29 when the Rockets travel south on I-75 to Dayton, OH to battle the Flyers. Tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m. in Dayton Arena.
