Toledo Hammers Madonna in Non-League Action, 99-47

Sunday, December 4

Toledo, OH

2:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

6-1

Madonna

4-6

Madonna

Toledo

Freshman Sara Rokkanen scored a season-high eight points vs. Madonna on Sunday.

Toledo Hammers Madonna in Non-League Action, 99-47

12/4/2016 5:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Madonna at Toledo Box Score (PDF)

TOLEDO, OH – Toledo continued its strong play to begin the 2016-17 season with a convincing 99-47 victory over Madonna on Sunday before 3,487 fans in Savage Arena. With the impressive double-digit win, the Rockets improve to 6-1 on the season.

Junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott paced a balanced UT attack with a season-high 20 points. The team tri-captain knocked down a sizzling 6-of-8 shots from beyond the arc against the NAIA member Crusaders (4-6) to register at least 20 points for the fifth time in her collegiate career. Bravo-Harriott has now made six three-point field goals, tied for eighth-most in a single game in school history, in two of the last three contests.

Joining Bravo-Harriott in double figures were senior Janice Monakana with 13 points and a game-high eight caroms, as well as freshman Mariella Santucci with 12 points and a contest-tying best seven assists.

The victorious Rockets also received nine points and a game-tying high seven helpers from sophomore Mikaela Boyd, a career-best nine points from sophomore Sarah St-Fort, a season-high eight points from freshman Sara Rokkanen and seven points by sophomore Olivia Cunningham to post their highest-scoring output since they tallied 101 against Akron on Jan. 14, 2015.

In total, all 12 Rockets contributed at least three points and all but two logged double-figure minutes in the 52-point triumph, tied for eighth-largest margin of victory in school annals. Toledo was able to empty its bench early, as no player saw more than 26 minutes of court time.

As a team, the Midnight Blue & Gold shot a season-high 54.7 percent (35-of-64) from the field, including a scorching 61.9 percent (season-high 13-of-21) from three-point land, and 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the charity stripe to surpass the 90-point plateau for the second time this year.

Toledo dominated all phases of today's non-league match-up and posted with a decisive 50-32 edge on the boards, a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint, a 31-7 edge in points off turnovers and a resounding 40-9 advantage in bench points to help them remain unbeaten at home. UT also did a good job sharing the basketball and dished out a season-high 27 assists, compared to 14 turnovers.

Becca Sabol led the Crusaders with 14 points, while former Rocket Michele Hayes had 10 in her return to Savage Arena. Hayes played one year for the Rockets in 2012-13 and appeared in 17 games off the bench for Toledo head coach Tricia Cullop.

Madonna started out strong and benefited from eight points by Sabol to assume an early 19-16 lead at the 1:51 mark. The 6-foot-1 forward tallied three layups and a pair of free throws to help the visitors establish an early three-point edge.

The Rockets kicked it into overdrive in the second quarter, receiving three-straight triples from Bravo-Harriott to take a 30-21 advantage at the 7:28 mark. The third-year Rocket knocked down a pair of shots from the right corner and another from the wing to give them a lead they would not relinquish.

Bravo-Harriott's nine-consecutive points ignited a pivotal 18-3 run to stretch the margin to 39-24 with 4:33 left before intermission. Five different Rockets accounted for points in this stretch to put them firmly in control of the contest.

Madonna momentarily stopped UT's momentum with four free throws, but the home team ended the stanza scoring eight of the final nine points to take a 47-29 lead into the intermission.

The Rockets outscored the Crusaders, 26-10, in the game-altering second period, shooting a sparkling 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from the floor. With the offense clicking, UT turned up the intensity defensively and held Madonna without a field goal over the final 7:10.

UT put the game out of reach early in the third period after Bravo-Harriott converted two more treys to balloon the lead to 61-37 at the 6:05 mark.

Toledo then emptied its bench after those clutch shots and put the game in cruise control, en route to posting an impressive 52-point victory.

The Rockets return to the hardwood on Friday, Dec. 9 when they play their lone road contest this month against Atlantic-10 power Dayton. The opening tip against the Flyers is slated for 11:00 a.m. in UD Arena.

UT and UD will meet for the eighth-consecutive season and 23rd time in the overall series. The Flyers lead the all-time series, 13-9, and have won five of the last six meetings. A season ago, UD claimed an 83-57 road triumph on Dec. 2, 2015.

The Rockets' last win in the series occurred on Nov. 13, 2011 when they registered a 61-51 home victory.