University of Toledo
BUFFALO
Toledo Shoots Down Buffalo, 81-60
1/26/2005 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (9-9, 5-2 MAC) ran its winning streak to a season-best three games Wednesday night with an 81-60 victory over Buffalo (3-14, 1-5 MAC) at Savage Hall. The Rockets led the entire 40 minutes to record their seventh win in eight career contests against the Bulls.
As a result of tonight's victory, along with a Bowling Green loss at Kent State, the Rockets now sit in a three-way tie for first place in the MAC West Division with Ball State and the Falcons.
"This is a hard fought win," Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen said. "Buffalo was a little short-handed tonight, and we were able to get some of their players in foul trouble and that hurt them."
All 10 Rocket players in uniform saw at-least 10 minutes of action and nine of them found the scoring column. Junior Monique Lloyd sat out tonight's action with an illness.
Senior Karin Hoogendam led four players in double figures with a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals. It is her sixth 20-point effort of the season and ninth in her career. Sophomore Danielle Bishop added 17 points, junior Crystal Young chipped in 11 points and five assists and freshman Kristi Zeller had 10. This was the first time this season Toledo has had four players tally double digits. The UT reserves also did its part, outscoring UB's reserves, 28-24.
"We came out strong," Hoogendam. "We were able to get the ball inside and then move it out and around the perimeter and find open players who knocked down shots. Our offense is starting to come together. We're starting to feel more confident and comfortable as a team and that is going to help us in the long run."
The Rockets shot an impressive 48.1 percent (25-of-52) from the field, including a season-high 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from three-point range and 79.3 percent (23-of-29) from the free throw line. The eight three-pointers is the fourth-most made by UT in a game this season, while the 81 points scored ties a season high also tallied at Cleveland State on Dec. 11.
"I'm very happy we scored 80-plus points, because we haven't done that very often this year," Ehlen said. "What I also liked is that a lot of people scored, especially off the bench."
Flynn Pyykkonen led UB with 22 points and Allison Bennett added 12 points. The Bulls shot 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the field, including 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from three-point range and 65.0 percent (13-of-20) from the free throw line.
UT jumped out to an early 10-4 thanks to back-to-back three-point field goals by Bishop. The Rockets continued to pour it on from beyond the arc, as a triple by freshman Aaron Richmond gave the home team a 17-4 advantage with 10:25 showing on the clock.
The Midnight Blue and Gold nearly quadrupled its lead on another three-point field goal by Young with the shot clock running down to make it a 22-6 score with 7:32 remaining. Zeller and Bishop finished off the first half shooting barrage as both connected triples for a 39-23 cushion at the intermission.
The Rockets hit 7-of-10 shots from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes. Bishop was a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range, while Zeller was 2-of-2.
In the second half, Toledo continued to push the action. UT shot a blazing 52.0 percent (13-of-25) from the floor and took a game-high 73-47 lead with 4:37 remaining on the clock. Tough, aggressive play throughout the second half by the Rocket women helped them to their third home win of the season.
"We have got a lot of ways we can improve yet," Ehlen said. "We just want to try to keep pace and keep getting better. Hopefully when tournament time arrives, we are playing our best. That is what we are shooting for right now."
Toledo returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 29 when it travels to Huntington, WV to battle Marshall. Game time is slated for 2:00 p.m. in the Cam Henderson Center.
