TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo held unbeaten Dayton to 19 field goals and coasted to an impressive 68-50 victory on Wednesday before 3,347 fans in Savage Arena. With the wire-to-wire win, the Rockets improve to 3-1 on the season. 

UT's smothering defense limited the reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Champions to 29.7 percent (19-of-64) from the field, including a frigid 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from three-point land. The Midnight Blue & Gold also forced UD (4-1) into turning the ball over 19 times and translated those miscues into 21 points.

Dayton came into tonight's contest shooting 41.6 percent (99-of-238) from the floor and averaging 73.0 points.

Offensively, junior Kaayla McIntyre paced the defending Mid-American Conference Champions with 19 points, five caroms and a game-high four rejections, followed by classmate Olivia Cunningham with 10 points. Toledo also received seven points each from senior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and sophomore Mariella Santucci, as well as six by redshirt freshman Tanaya Beacham to run its home winning streak to nine-consecutive games, dating back to last season.

As a team, the Rockets connected on a respectable 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the field, including a season-tying best 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from the charity stripe. 

UT also did a fantastic job taking care of the basketball and finished with 21 assists, compared to a season low seven turnovers. Toledo has now totaled at least 20 helpers in all but one game this year. Santucci spearheaded the attack with a game-high six dimes, while Cunningham and junior Mikaela Boyd were close behind with five and four, respectively. 

All-conference performer Jenna Burdette led Dayton with 19 points. She was the only visitor in double figures. Jayla Scaife was UD's next highest scorer with eight. 

The Rockets broke open the game with a 17-2 run over a span of five-plus minutes to assume a 23-8 lead at the 7:56 mark in the second period. McIntyre sparked the game-changing rally with a trio of layups, while sophomore Sara Rokkanen and Bravo-Harriott each knocked treys to give the home team a double-digit cushion.

Toledo kept up the intensity following a Dayton timeout, taking advantage of six-consecutive points from Beacham to make the score 36-18 at the intermission. The Youngstown native buried two field goals and converted a pair of charity tosses to bring the home crowd to its feet at the break.

UT built the 18-point halftime lead because its defense was outstanding. The Midnight Blue & Gold held Dayton to only 23.1 percent (6-of-31) from the floor and forced them into 14 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. 

In the third period, McIntyre dominated the paint and helped Toledo take a 50-33 lead into the final 10 minutes. The Toledo native accounted for five points, three rebounds and two rejections while playing all but one minute in the quarter to set the difference at 17 points.  

UT then put the finishing touches on an impressive home triumph with three-point field goals from senior Jada Woody, Rokkanen, Bravo-Harriott and Cunningham early in the final stanza. The Rockets' lethal outside shooters dialed up from long distance to end any chance of a possible UD comeback.
      
The Rockets return to the hardwood on Monday, Nov. 27 when they travel to the "Empire State" to take on Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member Iona. The opening tip against the Gaels is slated for Noon in the Hynes Center.


Highlights from UT's win over Dayton.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Junior Kaayla McIntyre post-game.