There have been many days this season when the University of Toledo women's basketball team could have used Kim Knuth-Klaer.
Yesterday was not one of those instances, but she was there for her old team anyway.
With Knuth-Klaer on hand for the retiring of her No. 52 Rockets jersey, UT cruised past Central Michigan 73-62 in front of a paid attendance of 1,752 at Savage Hall.
On their way to their fourth consecutive losing season overall and second straight in the Mid-American Conference, the Rockets (9-18, 5-10 MAC) might have benefited this year from having their all-time leading scorer back on the floor.
That's exactly where Knuth-Klaer was yesterday, only under different circumstances.
She was out there in street clothes at halftime, surrounded by her husband and three children, and holding her framed jersey.
"Being back out on the floor brings back so many memories," Knuth-Klaer said. "I wish I could put my jersey on one last time."
Knuth-Klaer became the first UT women's player to have her number retired. From 1995 through 1999, she twice was named the MAC player of the year, led the Rockets to three NCAA tournament appearances, and scored 2,509 points.
But when the moment finally arrived, when a yellow banner with her name and number on it was unveiled from Savage Hall's rafters yesterday, she wasn't looking.
Rather, she and her small entourage were posing for pictures in the opposite direction.
"I didn't know they were dropping it," Knuth-Klaer said. "I was too busy watching my kids run around."
Knuth-Klaer's former coach, current Rockets boss Mark Ehlen, didn't see the banner fall either. He was discussing strategy in the locker room with his team winning 34-19 at the half.
"I wish I could have [seen it], but I had a game to win," Ehlen said. "Kim won a lot of games here and I'm really proud of her, but that's in the past.
"She and I celebrated a lot of wins together back then. I was able to walk out at halftime and look at the banner. It looks great up there."
Following the game, senior forward Savannah Werner reflected on Knuth-Klaer's trailblazing feat.
"That would be a dream come true," Werner said. "To do that in any women's program is a significant achievement. Usually, it's the men who are chosen for things like that, so it's an amazing accomplishment."
The Rockets accomplished a win in what they were calling their "second season" opener. They feel that with yesterday's victory and Wednesday's regular-season finale against Western Michigan at home, they can build up some momentum heading into the MAC tournament.
Senior guard Danielle Bishop led all players with 21 points and made 5 of 9 3-pointers. Bishop moved past Lucretia LeGault (1989-92) into 10th place on the Rockets' all-time scoring list with 1,416 points.
UT freshman forward Allie Clifton scored 19 points and collected 11 rebounds, and Werner contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.
UT led by 20 with 14:43 to go, but Central Michigan (11-17, 3-12) went on an 18-4 run to trim its deficit to 55-49 with 5:35 left.
Clifton and Werner helped cool the Chippewas with 3-pointers and the Rockets regained control for the final 3:30.
"It wasn't the prettiest win, but we're not a pretty team and we'll take it," Ehlen said.
Contact Joe Vardon at:
jvardon@theblade.com
or 419-410-5055
First Published February 25, 2007, 10:21 a.m.
