University of Toledo
Wright State
Toledo Defeats Wright State in Non-Conference Action, 62-59
11/29/2006 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats |
UT vs. Wright State Photo Gallery 
DAYTON, OH - Toledo (2-4) snapped its two-game losing tonight with a hard-fought 62-59 victory over Wright State (0-5) in non-conference action at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.
The Rockets had four players in double figures led by senior Savannah Werner and junior Kristi Zeller with 12 points, respectively. Sophomore Diana Reindl added 11 points, while senior Danielle Bishop had 10.
"It wasn't pretty, but it's a win," Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen said. "This was something that we needed as we try to get on a roll. It was good to come on somebody else's floor and come away with a victory."
Toledo shot 38.8 percent (19-of-49) from the field, including 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from three-point range, to defeat Wright State for the fourth-straight time.
The Raiders came out firing and on the strength of five quick points from Tyanda Hammock took a 9-6 lead with 16:07 left and forced UT into a timeout. WSU hit three of its first four shots from the field to build the early three-point lead.
Toledo quickly countered with a pair of triples each by Bishop and Zeller to take a 17-12 edge. Five of UT's first six field goals came from beyond the arc.
The Rockets continued to shoot the ball well from the field as the first half wore on and built a seven-point lead, 22-15, with 9:30 left.
Then all of the sudden, the Rockets' offense seemed to disappear and Wright State stormed back to close the margin to 27-26 at the intermission. UT was held without a field goal the last five minutes of the half. WSU's Erica Richardson fueled the home team's run with six points off the bench to make it a one-point game at the half.
To start the second half, UT found its offense and behind seven points each from Reindl and Werner pushed its lead to 43-32 with 14:18 left.
Wright State then started its comeback behind strong play from Whitney Lewis and Hammock to knot the score at 48-48 with 7:40 left. The Raiders continued to attack and captured their first lead since the opening minute of the contest on a basket by Sierra Crayton. WSU was hitting on all cylinders midway through the second stanza at both ends of the floor and used a 22-6 run to take the lead.
The Rockets did not go quietly and five-consecutive points by Werner tied the score at 57-57 with 2:40 left.
After another basket by WSU's Hammock, UT's Zeller hit her fourth triple of the contest to retake the advantage for good, 60-59, with 1:06 left. Following a timeout, WSU turned the ball over and the home team immediately fouled Bishop. With the Rockets in the bonus, the Laingsburg, MI native drained both charity tosses.
The Raiders had two chances to tie the game at the end, but their two triples were off the mark and gave the Rockets a three-point victory.
"Savannah and Kristi stepped up big in the second half," Ehlen said. "When you have veterans on your team, you expect them to come out and make plays and tonight these two players did just that."
"Tonight we hit some big shots, grabbed some big rebounds and made just enough stops to hold off a scrappy Wright State team. This was something we haven't done in the past, but now we're starting to do. My hope is that we continue to do just that."
Hammock led the Raiders with a game-high 22 points and 13 rebounds. Lewis was the only other WSU player in figures, as she finished with 10. WSU shot an impressive 50.0 percent (25-of-50) from the field, but was victimized by 22 turnovers.
The Rockets return home on Saturday, Dec. 2 to battle Cleveland State in non-conference action. Tipoff from Savage Hall is slated for 7:00 p.m.
