LADY ROCKETS DESTROYED BY BOWLING GREEN

Mark Ehlen’s Rockets proved to be no match for Bowling Green State University in the second game of a Saturday double-header at Savage Hall as the arch-rival Falcons posted a 71-41 victory and halted a three game losing streak.

Toledo broke out to a brief 5-2 lead in the first three minutes of the contest, but that would be the high point for the Midnight Blue and Gold as the visitors than went on runs of 17-3 and 12-4 to blow out to a 31-12 lead at 5:37 of the first half.

Led by senior point guard Kate Achter, sophomore center Tara Breske, and freshman forward Lauren Prochaska, the Falcons put on a clinic of sorts at both ends of the court. Playing a spirited defense and showing versatility on offense,  Bowling Green took a 42-23 lead into the locker room.

Prochaska, a sharpshooter from Plain City, OH was on fire in the first period as she tallied 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, with Achter and Breske each recording nine points. As a team, Bowling Green shot 55.2% (16-of-29).

Once again, the Rockets were their own worst enemy, shooting just 30.8% (8-of-26) before intermission to seal their fate early on.

Sophomore Allie Clifton, starting for the first time since suffering a leg injury after the Central Michigan game, played 14 minutes and had 10 points to lead UT at the half, but she would not make an appearance in the final 20 minutes.

Bowling Green cooled off some in the second half, putting up 29 points but in comparison, Toledo went into a shooting deep freeze, hitting on just 6-of-25 opportunities in totaling 18 points in the final stanza.

Prochaska led all scorers in the final tally with 19 points, while Breske, who fouled out with 5:37 remaining in the game, and Achter each recorded 11 points. Achter also finished the contest with 13 assists, no turnovers, and two steals in directing the Falcon offense.

Clifton and Tamesha Scotton had 10 points each to lead the Rockets.

UT finished the game shooting just 27.5% (14-of-51) for the game. In addition to their shooting woes from the floor Toledo wasn’t having much success at the free throw line either, connecting on 11-of -24 tries.

Bowling Green had 18 assists and 11 turnovers. Conversely, Toledo had just eight assists and 19 turnovers.

The Rockets (10-10, 3-5 MAC) have now dropped 10 consecutive game to Bowling Green dating all the way back to Feb. 8, 2003.

The team has struggled through two terrible losses and must must put things together for a road game at Buffalo next Saturday.