UT digs out of 17-point deficit
Rockets capture fifth straight win
1/28/2012BUFFALO — The University of Toledo women’s basketball team overcame a 17-point second-half deficit Saturday to pull off a thrilling 77-75 Mid-American Conference victory against Buffalo at Alumni Arena.
Haylie Linn’s basket with 35 seconds left capped the comeback, while late free throws by Andola Dortch sealed it. The Rockets (13-7, 6-2) extended their win streak to a season-high five games.
Dortch paced the Rockets with 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Dortch was clutch in the final minutes and scored five of the team’s last seven points to help them overcome a 51-34 deficit near the beginning of the second half.
“I’m glad we didn’t stop after 20 [minutes] because that was some of the worst basketball we have played,” said UT coach Tricia Cullop. “It’s just another example of how we have to show up every night. It’s not easy to play on the road. I couldn’t be more proud of the second half.
“I wanted to find someone who really wanted it. It wasn’t about X’s and O’s, it was about who wanted it more. We got a lot of stops when we had too. I hope we don’t have to see that kind of deficit again.”
Yolanda Richardson contributed 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in a winning effort to post her fourth double-double of the season. Richardson was also credited with a game-high four blocks against the Bulls (6-16, 1-7) and surpassed Karin Hoogendam to become UT’s all-time shot blocker leader with 140 blocked shots. Hoogendam (2001-05) had been the leader at 138.
Joining Dortch and Richardson in double figures were senior Courtney Ingersoll (11 points) and Linn (10). The Rockets remain in a first-place tie with Eastern Michigan for the top spot in the MAC West Division.
Toledo is 4-0 this season when four players tally at least 10 points.
The Bulls’ Brittney Hedderson led all scorers with 23 points, while Nytor Longar added 16 with six rebounds and three steals.