ROCKETS ROMP TO WNIT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

 Toledo, OH - A Final Four game isn't supposed to be a blowout but don't tell that to the University of Toledo Rockets who rolled the University of North Carolina-Charlotte on Tuesday evening, 83-60, to advance to the WNIT championship game.

Savage Arena was bursting at the seams with well over 7,000 fans seemingly filling every nook and cranny to get a view of the action taking place on Nichols Court.  They came early – the arena was a good three-quarters full an hour before the scheduled 8:00 pm tip off, and they stayed after the game to cheer the Rockets who were on the floor giving post-game interviews. And in between they were treated to forty minutes of sparkling play by the Midnight Blue and Gold.

Toledo missed its first two shots at the basket before senior sharpshooter Jessica Williams drilled a triple to ignite an opening 12-2 run that was capped off by a second trey off the hands of the Westerville native. Charlotte cut the lead to 12-6 at the 15:17 mark but that’s the closest the visitors would ever get as the Rockets caught fire, keeping their collective feet on the accelerator until the buzzer sounded for intermission. By then the score was 43-23, and a buzz was beginning to grow among the golden-clad spectators in the stands that Toledo might just get to the championship game.

UT shot well in the first 20 minutes of play, hitting on 16-of-36 opportunities for 44.4 percent, while connecting on 5-of-15 tries from long-distance. But the statistical combination that was just a little short of marvelous had to be the dishing out of 12 assists while committing one solitary turnover.

Senior forward Melissa Goodall led Toledo in the first half with 11 points, while freshman guard Andola Dortch tallied nine points and seven rebounds in the early going. Dortch and Naama Shafir also teamed up for 10 assists and three steals.

In the second half the Rockets put on a clinic, both for Charlotte and the appreciative Toledo fans who roared loudly following every UT basket. With Shafir and Dortch driving around and through the Charlotte defenders - dazzling them with a variety of layups - and sophomore center Yolanda Richardson having her way with the taller visitors down on the low block, the margin became 34 points, 79-45, with five minutes to play. Charlotte managed to out-score the Toledo reserves 11-2 in the final three minutes of the game but there was never any doubt about which team would be headed for the championship game.

The Rockets had five players finish in double figures on the evening led by Shafir with 16 points. The junior playmaker also passed out a game high nine assists. Williams had 15 points on five 3-pointers; Richardson had 14 points on 7-of-7 from the floor; and Dortch contributed 13 points. Goodall had 11 points, all in the first half.

In addition to her scoring, Dortch finished the contest with a game high 10 rebounds to notch a double-double. The freshman from Akron also recorded seven assists and two steals on the evening.

For the game Toledo had 21 assists against just three turnovers while the visitors were guilty of 17 miscues. Those turnovers led to 25 Rocket points.

Senior guard Kendria Holmes had 14 points to lead Charlotte

In speaking of the win and the atmosphere in the arena, Richardson said, “It was a great feeling knowing that we made it to the championship game. We came out strong and didn’t let up for the whole game. This game and the Bowling Green game here at Savage Arena last year were probably the most memorable I’ve had as a player.”

“It was so exciting that our players really came out and set the tone for the game,” said Tricia Cullop in her post-game media session. “I can’t thank our fans enough for the support they gave us. It was humbling and it gave me chills to see so many people getting here so early and see so much traffic out there. It was just an amazing atmosphere today.”

And following the win, it was announced that Toledo would be hosting the championship game at Savage Arena on Sunday at 3:00 pm with the University of Southern California as the opponent. Tickets will go on sale beginning at 10:00 am on Thursday at the Savage ticket office. Better get em early.