ROCHESTER, MI - Sophomore Naama Shafir scored a career-high 36 points to lead Toledo to an 87-75 victory over Oakland (1-2) on Wednesday at the Athletics Center O'Rena. With the victory, the Rockets improve to 2-1 on the season.
Shafir tallied 28 of UT's 49 second-half points, including an amazing 22 points-in-a-row, to help the Midnight Blue & Gold post the impressive road triumph. The Hoshaya, Israel native finished 9-of-14 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, and 14-of-15 from the free-throw line, registering the most points by a Rocket since Kelly Walker also had 36 points vs. Hampton on Dec. 21, 2002.
"I can't be any more proud of Naama," Toledo Head Coach Tricia Cullop said. "She really put us on her back in the second half when we were stagnant on offense. I was very impressed with her effort."
Senior Tanika Mays was the only other Rocket in double figures with 17 points and a team-high nine boards. Senior Allie Clifton and junior Jessica Williams added nine points each.
Toledo shot a season-high 56.0 percent (28-of-50) from the field, including a sizzling 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from three-point land, and an even better 87.5 percent (21-of-24) from the charity stripe.
With the score tied for the 10th time, 59-59, at the 7:38 mark, Shafir knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Rockets' a lead it would not relinquish. The second-year letterwinner then hit back-to-back triples to finish off her impressive scoring run, moments before Mays dialed long distance to extend the margin to 69-62 with 5:19 remaining.
UT's lead did not dip below five points for the next two-plus minutes, before sophomore Courtney Ingersoll hit the team's 10th three-point field goal to make it a double-digit difference, 76-66, at 3:00. The Rockets have now made 24 treys in their first three games this season.
Toledo then sealed the victory, hitting 9-of-11 free throws in the waning moments.
"I told our team that we must hit free throws if we want to win games on the road, and we did that tonight," Cullop said. "I also thought we did a lot better job on the boards in the second half."
The Rockets won the battle of the glass, 36-30, including 28-17 on the defensive boards.
Oakland started the non-conference contest fast and hit five layups in the first three-plus minutes to jump out to a 12-6 lead at 16:12. OU's Bethany Watterworth fueled the start with a pair of inside baskets, including a tradition three-point play.
The Rockets quickly regrouped with a 7-0 burst to take their first lead of the contest, 13-12, on the first collegiate points by freshman Lecretia Smith.
Like a chess match, the Golden Grizzlies bounced right back to regain the advantage on the strength back-to-back triples from Watterworth and Kristin Turner, followed by another traditional three-point play from Sharise Calhoun, 25-18, at 10:06.
The home team received two more baskets from Calhoun to increase its lead to 31-22 with 8:04 remaining.
Oakland's lead grew to as many as 11 points, 38-27, before the Rockets scored the final 11 points to knot the teams at 38-38 at the intermission. Clifton started the run with consecutive layups and Williams' third triple of the period drew the squads evening at the break.
"I thought the first 10 minutes of the ball game, Oakland took it to us on the boards and in transition," Cullop said. "We felt very fortunate to be tied at the intermission, because we had to work so hard to get to that point."
UT's Mays hit a pair of layups to start the second period to help the visitors reclaim the lead, 44-40, with 16:07 left in regulation.
The score would be knotted six more times with Shafir doing almost all of the scoring, before UT was able to put the game away with clutch shooting and defense.
Watterworth paced the Golden Grizzlies with a career-high 24 points, followed by Hanna Reising (14 pts.), Calhoun (13 pts.) and Melissa Jeltema (11 pts.).
The Rockets return to action on Saturday, Nov. 21 to battle Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member Saint Peter's. The game is scheduled for a noon tipoff at Savage Arena.
