Rockets rack up 3rd straight win

1/21/2007

The University of Toledo women's basketball team ran its winning streak to three straight with an 85-77 overtime victory against Buffalo yesterday at Savage Hall.

In the extra period, the Rockets were a 7-of-7 from the free throw line and hit 4-of-6 field-goal attempts to improve to 7-11 overall, 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

"It sure feels good to win a MAC game in Savage Hall," said UT coach Mark Ehlen, whose squad snapped a three-game home losing skid. "We were 0-2 in the MAC at home and 2-1 on the road. It was important for us to come out and win today, but it wasn't easy."

Senior Danielle Bishop had 22 points, including seven points in overtime. Sophomore Diana

Reindl had 19 points, while

senior Savannah Werner had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Junior Kristi Zeller added 12 points and a career-high six

assists off the bench.

"This is a big win for us," Bishop said. "We haven't won at home in a while. We won two straight road games and those were big wins for us. We needed to play well today on our home court and we were able to come through."

The Rockets shot 46 percent (30 of 66) from the field, including 38 percent (9 of 24) on 3-pointers. UT made 16 of 24 from the free throw line. The Rockets dished out 17 assists, compared with only 11 turnovers.

Buffalo shot 47 percent (32-of-68) from the field, but only 27 percent (3-of-11) in overtime, while hitting just 5 of 11 free throws.

But when it looked like UT had the game in hand in the second half, the Bulls stormed back with a 12-2 run to knot the score at 40.

The Rockets relied on solid outside shooting with four consecutive 3-pointers, including a pair by Zeller, to reclaim the advantage 60-54 with 8:51 remaining.

Olivia Terry and Werner also hit 3-pointers for UT.

"Kristi nailed some clutch 3-pointers down the stretch," Ehlen said. "Olivia also came off the bench and hit a couple big shots."

With the score tied at 70 and 55 seconds left, the Rockets had a chance to take the lead, but junior Ta'Yani Clark missed both free-throw attempts.

In overtime, Buffalo established a three-point lead following Stephanie Bennett's sixth triple for a 77-74 edge with 3:20 left. Bennett led Buffalo with 19 points.

The Rockets needed a field goal and got one by freshman Allie Clifton, who finished with four points and seven rebounds.

UT then got a three-point play by Bishop to retake the lead for good 79-77 with 1:33 remaining.

The Rockets play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Miami.