Toledo Comes Up Short Against No. 2 Notre Dame, 85-68

Sunday, December 18

Toledo, OH

2:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

8-2

Notre Dame

10-1

Notre Dame

Toledo

Junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott paced UT with a season-high 23 points in a season-best 34 minutes.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Comes Up Short Against No. 2 Notre Dame, 85-68

12/18/2016 5:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Notre Dame vs. Toledo Box Score (PDF)

TOLEDO, OH – Toledo dropped an 85-68 decision against No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday in Savage Arena. The non-conference match-up was played before a boisterous 5,697 fans, the sixth-largest crowd in school history. The loss snapped the Rockets' four-game winning streak and dropped them to 8-2 on the season.

Junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott paced UT with a season-high 23 points in a season-best 34 minutes. The 2016-17 team captain shot an efficient 8-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-10 from three-point land, and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line to post at least 20 points for the sixth time in her collegiate career.

Sophomore Kaayla McIntyre contributed a season-high 13 points and a squad-best six caroms off the bench, while sophomore Olivia Cunningham had 10 points as a reserve.

The Midnight Blue & Gold also received nine points from senior Janice Monakana, as well as a team-high six assists each from sophomore Mikaela Boyd and freshman Mariella Santucci.

As a team, the Rockets shot a respectable 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field, including 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from three-point land, and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the charity stripe to suffer their seventh-straight loss to a ranked opponent. Their most recent victory against a ranked opponent occurred on Dec. 19, 2009 when they defeated No. 20 Dayton, 68-65, at home.

UT also finished with a sizable 40-27 edge on the boards and registered 21 assists on its 26 field goals made.

Despite the respectable offensive numbers, UT was snake bit by a season-high 28 turnovers. UND took full advantage of those miscues and translated them into 26 points. The visitors also recorded 16 thefts and posted an 8-0 edge in fast-break points to win the fourth-straight meeting in the series against UT.

Brianna Turner led the nationally ranked Fighting Irish (10-1) with a contest-best 26 points, followed by Marina Mabrey with 19, Erin Boley had 12 off the bench and Lindsay Allen totaled 10. Allen also finished with a game-high eight helpers and four steals in a team-high 32 minutes.

The Rockets hit their first two shots from the field, before the Fighting Irish rattled off 20 of the next 22 points to assume a 20-7 lead with 56 seconds left in the opening period. Five different Notre Dame players scored in the pivotal rally, including a team-high six from Boley to give the visitors a double-digit advantage they would not surrender.

UT utilized a mini 9-4 rally to start second period, cutting the margin to 30-20 at the 6:49 mark. McIntyre both started and capped the burst with layups, sandwiched in between two free throws from Bravo-Harriott and a triple by Monakana.

The Fighting Irish countered with an 8-0 run, but Toledo responded with a 12-6 burst to make the difference 44-32 at the break. Cunningham was responsible for seven of the 12 points over the final four-plus minutes to make it a 12-point difference at the intermission.

Bravo-Harriott caught fire to begin the second half, converting three triples and a layup to cut the margin to 58-45 at the 2:15 mark. The 2015-16 honorable mention All-Mid-American Conference selection knocked down a trio of shots from beyond the arc to keep the home team within striking distance.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, they could get no closer as Notre Dame's Turner scored six of her team's final eight points to set the score at 64-49 after 30 minutes of competition.

The closest Toledo could muster in the fourth quarter was 15 points on two occasions. Despite not being able to close the gap any further in the final period, UT did not go down without a fight and received a pair of three-point field goals by junior Jada Woody.

Notre Dame shot a lofty 53.3 percent (32-of-60) from the field, including a blistering 68.2 percent (15-of-22) in the second half, en route to posting the 17-point road victory. Turner spearheaded their productive offensive effort, connecting on 11-of-13 shots from the floor.

The Rockets will return to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 21 when they wrap up non-conference play against Detroit Mercy at home. The opening tip against the Titans is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

Notre Dame Head Coach Muffet McGraw praises Toledo fan base and speaks on the matchup

Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott postgame comments

Tricia Cullop postgame comments