CHEROKEE, N.C. — This time the University of Toledo started fast and ended fast.
Plagued by poor first quarters all season, the Rockets roared out of the gate with three 3s and a double-digit lead in the opening 10 minutes. Then came a two-quarter lull followed by a fantastic fourth-quarter push past Troy for a 70-62 victory in the Cherokee Invitational at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
UT (6-2) trailed 50-39 late in the third quarter after an almost five-minute scoreless drought. But the Rockets scored the final six points of the quarter, and then kept scoring in the fourth, overtaking Troy (5-6) 54-52 as part of a 15-2 run.
Khera Goss broke a 57-all tie with two free throws and then drained a corner 3 as the shot clock was expiring with 2:17 left. On the next possession, Hannah Noveroske drew a charge and Kendall Carruthers added two free throws to give Toledo a 64-57 lead.
The Rockets outscored Troy 25-12 in the fourth quarter.
Sammi Mikonowicz scored a team-high 13 points for Toledo. She added nine rebounds. Goss (eight rebounds) and Nan Garcia each scored 11 points.
All 12 Rockets scored.
UT led 21-12 at the end of the first quarter, committing zero turnovers and handling Troy’s frenetic pace with poise. But the Trojans responded by forcing six turnovers in the second quarter and outscoring Toledo 20-8. Nine of their points came off turnovers.
The Rockets were just 3-of-12 shooting in the quarter.
Troy used a 9-2 run to get within two points (23-21), tied the score at 27, and took its first lead at 29-27.
The Trojans led 32-29 at the half and extended the lead to 11 in the third quarter, thanks to an 11-0 run.
STAT TO KNOW
Troy ranks third nationally in rebounding, with 49.7 boards per game (31.4 defensive, 18.3 offensive). But Toledo outrebounded the Trojans by a wide margin — 50-38. The Rockets had a 14-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
Troy only outscored UT 15-14 in second-chance points.
QUOTABLE
“I’m really proud of the collective buy-in to the [scouting report] tonight. I think tonight was the best we’ve done at executing a game plan on player personnel.” — Toledo coach Ginny Boggess
UP NEXT
The Rockets play the winner of Arkansas-Liberty. The game will tip off at approximately 9:45 p.m. and be streamed on WatchStadium.com.
First Published December 19, 2024, 2:10 a.m.
