 "Photo: IC file photo by Jason Mack")
After leading by double digits at halftime, the Rockets were outscored 11-3 in the final two minutes last night in a 62-59 loss at Kent State.
“Kent outplayed us in the second half,” Toledo Head Coach Tricia Cullop said. “They were more aggressive. I thought they wanted it more. I expected more of us. I thought we had more fight in us.”
Toledo (17-5, 7-2 Mid-American Conference) struggled from the floor, making just 17-of-55 shots (30.9 percent). Junior forward Melissa Goodall scored a game-high 19 points with five rebounds and two blocks. She made 11-of-13 free throws and scored nine of the Rockets’ first 10 points. Sophomore guard Naama Shafir scored 17 points with five assists, four steals and four rebounds. Senior forward Tanika Mays led the team with nine rebounds and had three steals but was held to five points.
“Goodall tried and Shafir had a good game,” Cullop said. “Unfortunately, we have to have more than that. We’ve gotten tentative in certain positions and have to step back up.”
Goodall and Shafir each scored 11 points in the opening frame but went cold in the second half. Goodall scored her first points of the second half on a pair of free throws with 10:03 remaining. Shafir was held scoreless for 16:31 in the second half before making a three-pointer.
Kent State (14-7, 7-2 MAC) led nearly all statistical categories. The Golden Flashes outscored Toledo 34-14 in points in the paint, 24-19 in points off turnovers, 16-10 in second chance points and 12-6 in fast break points.
“The transition baskets are the thing that is just going to eat me alive on the way home,” Cullop said.
Taisja Jones and Jamilah Humes led Kent State with 17 points each. Lorriane Odhiambo scored a three-point play 11:03 into the game to give the Flashes their largest lead of the game at 16-12.
The Rockets responded with a 16-4 run to take a 28-19 lead. Shafir stole the ball twice, made a triple, assisted on a triple and scored a three-point play to cap the run with 3:52 left.
Shafir stole the ball again with 10 seconds left and assisted on a layup to end the half up 35-25.The Rockets held the lead in the second half until Humes scored a three-point play with 1:29 remaining to tie the score at 56.
Shafir made a triple on the ensuing possession, but Jones scored six-straight points in the final minute to give Kent State a 62-59 lead.
Jones missed the back end of a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining, and the Rockets failed to take a potential game-tying shot before time expired.
UT travels to Ohio (6-16, 2-7) for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday.
“We have to bounce back from this and be ready to go,” Cullop said. “It’s a long season. This is one game, but it is very frustrating to be outplayed.”
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