Toledo women win Georgia State tournament

Zanoguera claims MVP honors for Rockets

12/31/2012

ATLANTA — The University of Toledo women’s basketball team claimed a hard-fought 46-43 victory over Georgia State today in the championship game of the GSU Holiday & Hoops Tournament inside the GSU Sports Arena. With the triumph, UT wraps up its non-conference slate with a 12-1 mark.

Senior Naama Shafir led two Rockets in double figures with 11 points, while junior Andola Dortch had 10 points to help extend their win streak to 11-consecutive games.

The three-time Mid-American Conference West Division champions also received stout efforts from senior Lecretia Smith (eight points, four rebounds) and sophomore Inma Zanoguera (seven points, career-high 14 rebounds) to capture their fourth tourney title this season.

Zanoguera was named the tournament MVP, contributing 8.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in this weekend's two victories. The Llucamajor, Spain native was joined on the all-tourney squad by senior Yolanda Richardson (14.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game).

Toledo shot 25.8 percent (16 of 62) from the field, including 20.0 percent (3 of 15) from three-point land, and 68.8 percent (11 of 16) from the charity stripe.

The storyline was UT's ability to get to the free-throw line and convert. The Rockets made 11 free throws, while GSU (8-3) converted only two.

Toledo also played a strong game defensively and limited the Panthers to 31.7 percent (19 of 60) from the floor and 33.3 percent (2 of 6) from the line.

Kayla Nolan and Kendra Long paced the host Panthers with 13 points each.

Toledo will now open up its MAC season at home against Central Michigan on Jan. 10.