Toledo Extends Winning Streak With 73-64 Victory at Buffalo

Wednesday, January 11

Buffalo, NY

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

12-3 (3-1MAC)

Buffalo

11-4 (1-3MAC)

Toledo

Buffalo

Sophomore Mikaela Boyd paced UT with 19 points and 10 caroms at Buffalo on Wednesday.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Extends Winning Streak With 73-64 Victory at Buffalo

1/11/2017 9:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Toledo at Buffalo Box Score (PDF)

AMHERST, NY – Toledo extended its winning streak to three-straight games with an impressive 73-64 victory over Buffalo in Wednesday's Mid-American Conference cross-division match-up in Alumni Arena. With the win, UT improves to 12-3 overall, 3-1 in the league.

Sophomore Mikaela Boyd paced a pair of Rockets in double figures with 19 points, followed by sophomore Kaayla McIntyre with 15. Boyd also pulled down a contest-best 10 caroms to post her third career double-double.

The Midnight Blue & Gold also received a season-high nine points from freshman Sara Rokkanen and seven each from junior Jada Woody and sophomore Sarah St-Fort to hand the Bulls (11-4, 1-3 MAC) their first home loss of the year.

As a team, Toledo shot a respectable 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the field, including 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from beyond the arc, and 64.3 percent (18-of-24) from the free throw line to end a mini two-game losing skid to the Bulls on the road.

UT dominated on the interior and finished with a commanding 40-24 edge in points in the paint. The Rockets also forced 19 turnovers and translated those miscues into 16 points.

JoAnna Smith led UB with 16 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the floor, while Stephanie Reid had 11 points and a game-high 10 helpers.

The reigning MAC Tournament champions were held in check offensively, connecting on only 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the floor, including 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from three-point land.

The Rockets set the tone defensively at the outset and forced six turnovers in the opening four-plus minutes. UT mustered six points off those early UB miscues and held a 10-4 lead at the 5:51 mark.

Offensively, Toledo relied on seven points each from Woody and McIntyre to claim a 20-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Rockets' duo combined to score the final eight points of the period to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

The Bulls attacked the basket hard in the opening minutes of the second period and received a pair of layups from Smith to trim the margin to 23-16, forcing UT to call a timeout at the 6:41 mark.

UT settled down following the stoppage of play and traded baskets with UB over the next three-plus minutes to kill the home team's momentum. The Rockets then ended the half with a mini 13-7 burst to take a 40-30 lead into the intermission. Sophomore Olivia Cunningham sparked the late rally with a pair of charity tosses and a big trey over the final 3:25 to help them assume a 10-point advantage at the break.

The Rockets came out of the break strong and benefited from three big baskets by Rokkanen to extend their margin to a game-high 17 points, 55-38, with 4:08 remaining in the third period. The Helsinki, Finland native converted a jumper, a layup and a three-point field goal to give UT a 17-point cushion.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, they let Buffalo rattle off nine of the next 11 points to cut the margin to 10 points, 57-47, at the 7:40 mark in the fourth period. UB's Theresa Onwuka spearheaded the run with five points to bring the home crowd to its feet.

UT needed points to swing the momentum back in its favor and McIntyre delivered with back-to-back field goals to make the score 63-48 with 4:08 left in regulation. The Toledo native was strong in the post and converted a pair of field goals from close range to kill any chance of a UB comeback.

The Bulls pulled within nine points late, but UT sealed the victory scoring its final 10 points at the charity stripe to secure the impressive 11-point road triumph.

The Rockets will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they host MAC West Division co-leader Northern Illinois. The opening tip versus the Huskies is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed on ESPN3.

UT and NIU will square off for the first of two meetings during the 2017 MAC season and the 50th time overall. Toledo leads the all-time series, 31-18, and has won nine of the last 11 meetings against its MAC West Division foe.

The Rockets also maintain a 19-4 edge in home games and has won the last eight meetings in Savage Arena.

A season ago, Toledo swept the regular-season series for the third time in the last five years, claiming a 66-59 home victory (Jan. 16) and an 89-83 overtime road triumph (Feb. 27).

In conjunction with Saturday's MAC West Division match-up, fans can meet and have their photo taken with Cinderella and Belle on the main concourse during pre-game and halftime.