UT wins 11 straight at home

The Rockets ran their win streak at Savage Arena to 11-consecutive games with a 65-41 victory over divisional foe Western Michigan in front of 4,225 fans on Saturday.

The game held a "Rockets for a Cure" theme, including an auction of UT's special pink, game-worn jerseys following the game, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Northwest Ohio foundation. According to Toledo Head Coach Tricia Cullop, the team raised nearly $10,000 on the night.

"I'm so pleased with the crowd that came out today," Cullop said. "What a tremendous cause to support. People in the stands are facing adversity, so let's go out and inspire them and make them forget about their problems for two hours with our play."

The Rockets (20-5, 10-2 Mid-American Conference) won their 20th game of the season for the 14th time in school history and the first time since the 2002-03 season.

The Rockets, who were playing without senior forwards Tanika Mays and Allie Clifton, played strong on the offensive end hitting 46.9 percent from the field (23 of 49), hit an even 50 percent from beyond the three-point-line (7 of 14) and shot 75 percent from the free throw stripe (12 of 16). UT was led by sophomore guard Naama Shafir who had a game-high 19 points and eight assists, along with a career-high eight rebounds.

"Naama had some great passes, but what I'll remember is her solid play," Cullop said. "She's still taking charges, still taking care of the basketball and she's distributing it very well. With her on the floor, we are a dangerous team."

Senior forward Lisa Johnson tallied 12 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes of action against the Broncos (7-18, 2-10 MAC). With Mays and Clifton out, Johnson has stepped up scoring 12.3 points per game in the last three contests, compared to the 2.3 she averaged in the previous 20 games.

"Lisa was injured at Ball State with a shoulder injury, now she's back and for three straight games she's had double digits in scoring," Cullop said. "She's said ‘Hey, I'm a senior and I don't want to lose.' She's inspired everybody with her play and she got some key rebounds and blocks. You talk about somebody who's doing the dirty work for our team. That dirty work is paying off in W's."

Junior guard Jessica Williams scored in double-digits with 11 points and added four steals in 25 minutes of play while freshman forward Lecretia Smith ripped down 10 rebounds. Freshman center Yolanda Richardson finished with 10 rebounds and nine points in 21 minutes of action.

"Yolanda played big minutes tonight," Cullop said. "She was one off a double-double. She's fought through being sick. She's still not 100 percent right now, but she played gutsy."

Junior forward Melissa Goodall was shut-out in the first half but contributed seven points in the second half.

Toledo's defense stifled Western Michigan, holding the Broncos to just 24.5 percent shooting from the field (13 of 53), 21.7 percent from beyond the arc (5 of 23) and 66.7 percent from the free throw line (10 of 15). The Rockets also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Western Michigan 44-27.

"Coach Cullop and the rest of the coaches really value defensive effort, and our team has bought into that. Johnson said. "At this point of the season, we have to show that defense wins games. Yes, the pink jerseys, the great offense and the great plays bring everyone in here to support us, but defense is what won that game."

Toledo started out sloppy, winning the tip and promptly turning the ball over three-straight times. Shafir stepped up and halted the carelessness and drained three baskets, and Johnson added a lay-up to help the Rockets take an 8-3 lead at the 14:14 mark in the first half.

A three-point play by Shafir and a triple by Johnson extended Toledo's lead to 20-14 with 6:17 left in the first half.

The Rockets went on a 13-6 run highlighted by a three from Williams and a layup from Richardson to close out the first half with a 33-20 lead.

Toledo put the game away early in the second half after Williams made two quick three-pointers to open up the lead to 41-23 with 17:04 to play.

Western Michigan came no closer than 15 points in the second half as Toledo poured on the points. UT eventually opened up a 26-point lead after a three by freshman guard Riley McCormick with 41 seconds left in the game.

The Rockets return to action next Saturday in DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois at 4 p.m.