Toledo women defeat Ohio 64-62 over the weekend

The University of Toledo women’s basketball team secured their first Mid-American Conference road win of the season on Sunday, improving to 9-9 overall (4-3 in the MAC).

The Rockets sunk a 64-62 victory at Ohio after overcoming a 17-point second half deficit last Sunday, putting them officially at .500.

All five starters for Toledo finished in double-digit scoring as Toledo overcame the 36-19 half time deficit.

Senior point guard Andola Dortch led her team with 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals while playing the entire 40 minutes of the game.

Junior small forward Inma Zanoguera tallied 13 points for the Rockets, while center Brianna “Crunch” Jones, senior guard Janelle Reed-Lewis and sophomore small forward Ana Capotosto all contributed 10 points each.

After a shaky shooting performance through the first half, UT put up 57 percent from the field as a team while holding the Bobcats to just 29 percent shooting.

Toledo got a big help from Dortch, Zanoguera and Capotosto as they accounted for 31 of their team’s 45 second-half points.

Kiyanna Black paced the Bobcats (8-10, 3-4 MAC) with a game-high 18 points, while Hannah Boesinger and Quiera Lampkins had 10 points each. 

In the first half UT struggled to take care of the ball, committing 12 turnovers in the face of the Bobcats aggressive style of defense. Black was responsible for three of six steals and nine first half points.

Ohio carried a 41-20 lead with 17:37 left to play, but UT found a groove shortly after with a 13-2 run by the 14:17 mark. Zanoguera sparked the run by accounting for seven points, while Dortch helped with a pair of layups.

UT found success behind the arc as Reed-Lewis was able to knock down two for the Rockets and Capotosto was able to hit another to make it 56-54 with 3:30 left on the clock.

After a costly OU turnover, Dortch was able to cash in at the free throw line, making both shots. Zanoguera was able to answer with a layup of her own giving the Rockets their first lead, a 58-56 advantage, since the opening four minutes of the game.

The Bobcats fought back by tying the score for a third time, but Toledo sank the last basket.

The Rockets return to Savage Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, to host the Akron Zips.