Final Stats
CLEVELAND, OH - Toledo played its best game of the season Saturday afternoon, registering an 81-67 victory against Cleveland State at the Convocation Center. With today's victory, the Rockets snap their five-game losing skid and improve to 2-5 on the season.
The Rockets recorded season-bests in points, field goal percentage (52.5 percent, 31-of-59) and three-point field goal percentage (50.0 percent, 10-of-20). UT entered today's game 12th in the Mid-American Conference in scoring (50.8 ppg), 11th in three-point field goal percentage (25.9%) and 13th in field goal percentage (32.4%).
"We shot the ball well today," said Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen, whose team also snapped a seven-game road losing streak dating back to last season. "Our ability to knock down shots was the difference in today's contest. The thing we stressed heading into today's game was we needed people to step up and play. I think we did just that and got contributions from everyone. This is a big win for us, especially on the road."
Sophomore Danielle Bishop led three UT players in double figures with 18 points. Bishop, who came into the contest shooting just 27.3 percent from three-point range, knocked down 5-of-6 shots from beyond the arc to tally double figures for the fifth time this season. Other Rockets in double figures included senior Karin Hoogendam (12 pts.) and freshman Kristi Zeller (10 pts., 5 asst.). All 11 Toledo players saw action today and three tallied at-least seven points.
"I'm really happy that we were able to get contributions from a lot of different people," Ehlen said.
Toledo broke out of its season-long shooting slump to take control of the game in the early going as four different players connected on three-pointers to jump out to a 17-8 lead with 13:45 left. The Rockets then used an 8-2 run in the final 2:16 of the half to take a 44-27 lead into the intermission. UT held CSU without a field goal for a little over the last five minutes of the first half.
In the second half, a 10-2 Toledo run gave the visitors its largest lead of the contest, 54-29, with 17:23 left and effectively put the game away.
The Vikings fought back and used an 8-0 run to close to 54-39 with 15:31 left. CSU eventually closed to 56-43 with 13:29 left, before the Rockets then scored 13 of the next 15 points to rebuild their lead to 68-45 with 9:47 left. The Vikings would get no closer than 12 points the rest of the contest.
The Rockets also did a nice job taking care of the ball, winning the battle of the boards, 38-36, and dished out a season-best 21 assists.
Mandy Sichting led the Vikings with a game-high 19 points, including 13 in the second half. Also registering double figures was Erin Martin (17 pts.) and Robyn Hoying (12 pts.).
Toledo will return to action on Dec. 20-22, when it travels to San Juan, Puerto Rico to participate in the San Juan Shootout. The Rockets will battle Towson in the opening round at noon in the Guillermo Angulo Coliseum. The other teams participating in the three-day tournament include Florida State, Fordham, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, UPR-Mayaguez and Charlotte.
The Rocket men will also be in San Juan at the same time competing against Middle Tennessee State, Delaware and Auburn.
