Rocket women beat Wildcats on hardwood

11/14/2008

HILO, Hawaii Freshman Naama Shafir hit a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to propel Toledo to a 64-63 victory over Arizona in Friday s season opener at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational.

The nonconference game was played at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium on the island of Hilo.

Shafir led two Rockets in double figures with 19 points and five assists, but no two points were more crucial than the charity tosses with less than a handful of time left in regulation. Junior Lisa Johnson added 12 points in the win.

It may say by her name that she is a freshman, but Naama is a veteran, said first-year Head Coach Tricia Cullop, who improved to 8-1 in season-opening contests as the leader of a women s basketball program.

She has played against some of the best players overseas. We kept telling her how much we believed in her, and she responded.