Reindl gets her chance to help UT
12/11/2005Oddly enough, a shot that Diana Reindl missed was one of the biggest of the day for the University of Toledo women's basketball team.
The Rockets were clinging to a one-point lead with 16.2 seconds remaining, but just
0:07 left on UT's possession.
Reindl hustled for a loose ball and leaned through traffic to get an attempt off before the shot clock expired, and teammate Danielle Bishop rebounded.
Bishop capped a 16-point night with two free throws that secured a 69-66 victory over Wright State at Savage Hall.
"I don't know how big that was," Reindl said of her shot. "But Danielle getting the rebound was crucial and clutch."
Reindl, a redshirt freshman who has suffered knee ligament injuries in each of the past two seasons, entered yesterday's game averaging fewer minutes (7.8) and fewer points (1.5) than any player on the UT roster.
The 6-1 forward from Mans-field, Ohio, proved to be the Rockets' secret weapon, playing 26 minutes and producing 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Reindl was the spark UT needed off the bench after trailing by as many as nine points during a cold-shooting first half. She made four of her first five shots and single-handedly kept the Rockets in the game and within 38-31 at halftime.
"We've had a lot of players step up and I figured I should, too," Reindl said. "I made my first couple shots, and that made everything easier. I was able to relax and just play."
UT coach Mark Ehlen said he and Reindl chatted on the bus coming back from Indiana State last Wednesday.
"I told her she'd have her opportunity," Ehlen said. "Diana is an extremely good athlete, but has had those injuries and has played a bit tentative. But I kind of felt her time was coming.
"We don't win this if she doesn't step up. A lot of people get an opportunity and don't do anything with it. That certainly wasn't the case with her today."
Savannah Werner finished with 14 points to give the Rockets (4-2) three players in double figures. She added eight rebounds as UT won big on the boards, 43-30.
"That's the fourth straight game we've outrebounded somebody, and I like that," Ehlen said. "I also like the fact that three of our four wins have been close and our players have showed poise and found ways to win."
Wright State, playing its seventh straight game on the road, fell to 3-4 despite 17 points from both Ana Perez and Tyanda Hammock, neither of whom started the game.
The Rockets won despite shooting 39 percent, a statistic fed by 3-of-17 shooting from 3-point range.
Contact Dave Hackenberg at: dhack@theblade.com or 419-724-6398.