DEFENSE SPARKLES IN WIN OVER BALL STATE

January 5, 2011 - The Toledo Rockets came up with a stellar defensive performance against the visiting Ball State Cardinals Wednesday evening, and the result was a 63-46 win in the conference opener for both schools.

With Melissa Goodall leading the charge, Toledo jumped out to a 14-3 lead over the cold-shooting Cardinals who managed just one basket in the first nine minutes of the contest. UT was contesting every shot.

The Rockets got an advantage when Emily Maggert, Ball State’s do-everything senior was forced to the bench with two quick fouls after just three minutes of play. After UT opened up that 11-point margin, Coach Kelly Packard reinserted Maggert into the lineup in an attempt to provide some offensive punch, and the move paid dividends as BSU immediately went on a 9-0 run to cut the Rocket margin to just two points, 14-10. Maggert accounted for seven points of that the run.

It took a triple from Jessica Williams and a pair of Goodall layups for Toledo to reestablish a somewhat comfortable lead, 21-12, and the Midnight Blue and Gold went into intermission with a 26-16 lead after Ball State would score just four more points in the final seven minutes of the half.

Toledo played an aggressive man-to-man defense for the first 20 minutes, limiting the Cardinals to just six field goals. The Rocket defenders also forced Ball State into 16 first-half turnovers.

UT might have put the game out of reach early, but six miscues of their own in the final five minutes put a damper on the Rocket offense.

Goodall’s nine points led all scorers in the opening period.

The Rockets continued their defensive dominance after the break, and led by as many as 25 points, 54-29 with 6:04 to play. Naama Shafir was the offensive spark after intermission, tallying 10 of her 14 points in the final stanza.

Toledo had a commanding 59-38 lead at about the four minute mark when both coaches began inserting their reserve players into the game. Every player who was in uniform for Toledo saw some action and no starter was on the court when the final horn sounded.

Both teams got a little physical in the contest with Ball State freshman forward Katie Murphy drawing her fifth personal foul with 10 minutes to play and Toledo’s Yolanda Richardson fouling out five minutes later while trying to control Maggert in the paint. For the game, Ball State was whistled for 21 fouls and Toledo was called for 17 violations.

In containing Ball State, Toledo held the visitors from Muncie, IN to 18 points under their season average of 64. The 46 points recorded by the Cardinals was the team’s second lowest total of the season; BSU was held to 45 points in a home loss to Missouri back in December.

The Rockets also forced Ball State into 27 turnovers on the evening and held them to 16 baskets in 51 attempts for 31.4%

Goodall and Shafir each had 14 points to lead Toledo in scoring and Williams finished with eight points. Richardson had six second-half points and tied Goodall for rebounding honors with eight grabs before she fouled out.

Following the contest, Goodall said: “It was a fun game. With Ball State it’s an extra competitive game because I've been playing against some of their players for four years now; they know us and we know them. But it was also nice to get that first conference win under our belts and get our momentum going. The key was we really played well together defensively. We were getting our hands on their passes and talking to each other. Our secondary defense has improved.”

Maggert, who is one of the top players in the conference and the heart of the Ball State team, had a game high 18 points. She also led Ball State in rebounds with six caroms.

“Defensively, we did a pretty nice job all game,” remarked Tricia Cullop at her post-game media session. “We could have boxed out better and I thought we gave them too many offensive rebounds, especially in the first half; I wasn't real pleased with our checking out. But I did think that tonight we showed what we've been working on in practice. We knocked down a lot of passes, then got some steals and some easy looks at the other end. Overall, defensively I was very pleased and I was also pleased with the focus of everyone when I substituted.”

It was a nice win for the Rockets but there needs to be some improvement on offense and at the foul line if the team expects to keep the “Ws” coming. For the contest Toledo made just 14-of-26 charity tosses

UT (9-5, 1-0) now has a date with the Western Michigan Broncos this coming Saturday, Jan.8 in Kalamazoo. The Ponies came out on the short end of a 72 to 62 decision at home against Central Michigan on Wednesday.