Rockets win 75-63 OT thriller against Buffalo

The University of Toledo women’s basketball team clawed back from a second half 13-point deficit to take home a 75-63 overtime victory Wednesday night over the University of Buffalo.

In short, it was a win the Rockets (11-6, 4-2 MAC) earned by the skin of their teeth.

“I love how hard our kids played even though things didn’t go our way,” said UT head coach Tricia Cullop. “But we had way too many turnovers and gave up way too many offensive rebounds, things that could kick us in the butt later.”

Senior guard Inma Zanoguera led her team to victory by scoring the final 13 points of the game for the Rockets, including a game-tying jumper outside the paint with just 17 seconds left on the clock to force overtime.

Zanoguera, who was held without a field goal until the 13:54 mark in the second half, finished the game with 28 points, tying her career high. She also had 8 rebounds and 7assists and went perfect from the charity stripe, finishing 15-of-15 on free throws.

That mark was one free throw away from the school record.

Two other Rockets finished in double digits. Junior guard Brenae Harris tallied 10 points, while freshman guard Jay Bravo-Harriott finished with 11 points off the bench.

Toledo confused the Buffalo (9-8, 2-4 MAC) attack by throwing multiple defenses at the preseason Mid-American Conference East Division favorites. The Bulls were limited to 33.3 percent shooting from the field in the second half, which allowed the Rockets to fight back into the game.

Buffalo senior forward Kristen Sharkey paced her team with 21 points and 8 rebounds. The Rockets had trouble keeping all the Bulls off the boards, allowing 20 offensive rebounds and 26 points in the paint.

Buffalo used their length and size to force 19 Toledo turnovers and convert 18 points off takeaways.

“They are a very athletic team,” Zanoguera said. “They are long and lanky, they move fast and they pressured us. In the first half we didn’t handle that well and it starts with me at the point guard.

“If I don’t set the rhythm for the offense it won’t work, so pushing the tempo in the offense was key in the second half.”

The Rockets found themselves trailing 41-28 with 15:08 to play. Buffalo was in complete control of the game.

UT started chipping away at the visiting team’s lead. With nine minutes remaining, Harris hit a corner trey to put her team within three points of the Bulls.

Buffalo responded with six straight points to extend their advantage.

“We kept our composure and didn’t panic,” Zanoguera said. “We understood the game towards the final minutes and decided that this was our home court and that they would not take it like that.

“I never feel that I have to take over. I am fortunate to have a lot of players on my team who can score, but if they put the ball in my hands and they leave me open I’ll put it up.”

Zanoguera erupted Savage Arena with a deep trey to tie the game with less than four minutes to play. The celebration was cut short as the Bulls popped off six quick points to regain the advantage.

Zanoguera carried her team back by scoring the Rockets’ final 13 points of regulation. With 35 seconds to play, Buffalo’s Christa Baccas hit a jumper in the paint to put the Bulls up 58-56.

After a missed three-pointer from sophomore forward Janice Monakana, Zanoguera grabbed the rebound and converted a jumper from outside the paint.

Toledo then took complete control of the extra period. The Rockets went on an 11-2 run sparked by a trey from Bravo-Harriott to seal the game.

“I love the resiliency of our team tonight,” Cullop said. “You’ll have nights where things don’t sync well, and we were out of sink offensively and some of that was to the credit of Buffalo’s length and athleticism.

“Some of that was because we weren’t there. I am most proud that we kept our composure and stayed right there and kept chipping away.”

UT will look to build off this victory when they host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 24, which is the first game in a Rockets double header that ends with the men’s team’s Tie One On event. The women tip off against the Eagles at 2 p.m. and the men will tip off against Bowling Green at 7 p.m.