Rockets defense smothers Bobcats

1/23/2012

ATHENS, Ohio -- The University of Toledo women's basketball team held Ohio University to only 12 field goals and coasted to a 52-33 victory on Sunday in the Convocation Center.

With the triumph, the Rockets (11-7, 4-2 MAC) run their win streak to a season-high three straight games.

UT's smothering defense limited the Bobcats (9-11, 2-4) to 21 percent (12-of-56) from the field, marking the third-consecutive contest it restricted the opposition to less than 30 percent.

The 33 points tied for the sixth-fewest points allowed in school history and the lowest mark since Northern Illinois totaled 31 points on Jan. 12, 2011.

Yolanda Richardson paced the Rockets with 18 points, a season-high 15 rebounds, and a season-best six blocks. Richardson knocked down 9-of-11 shots from the floor to post her third double-double of the season, as she is shooting a staggering 76 percent (40-of-53) in league games.

Courtney Ingersoll had 12 points and Inma Zanoguera had a season-high 11 points.

UT never trailed in the cross-division matchup and stormed out to a 10-0 lead at 16:27, forcing the Bobcats into an early timeout. The Rockets received triples from senior Haylie Linn and Ingersoll, as well as four points from Richardson in the opening sequence to build the double-digit cushion.

In the waning moments of the first half, Toledo benefitted from baskets from Richardson and Zanoguera to take a 20-13 cushion into the locker room. The 13 points the Rockets allowed equalled a season low, tying their effort versus Dayton in the first half of the season opener on Nov. 13.

Richardson continued to be a force on the low block to begin the second half, as she converted three consecutive layups to extend UT's lead to 26-15 with 16:00 remaining in regulation. She accounted for 10 of her team's first 13 points after halftime to make the difference 33-22.

Mariah Byard knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with nine points to pace the Bobcats.