Toledo Rockets (6-1) hot shooting led them to victory 58-39 over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (4-5) on Monday night.
The Rockets started up 17-0 in the first quarter and ended the quarter up 19-6. Senior guard Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott had seven of her 13 points in that quarter.
The shorthanded Bonnies gave it a great effort in the next three quarters. They just couldn’t make enough shots to spark a comeback. The Bonnies only shot 27 percent from the field and 12 percent from three.
Bonnies coach Jesse Fleming said, “I thought out of our attempts from the perimeter, 17 or 18 were good looks, the kind of shot we want to take in transition or through ball movement.” Fleming said, “When you’re down and fighting back, every shot has a little more pressure on it and that’s where some of the struggles came in as well.”
They had an opportunity to bring the lead down to 10 before the half, but a couple missed free throws and a turnover doomed the Bonnies.
“We played a little better in the second quarter, then missed a couple free throws and had a turnover that allowed a layup in transition,” said Fleming. “That pushed it back to a 16-point game at halftime, and most of the time you’re not going to come back from that.”
Toledo’s junior center Kaayla McIntyre had six of her 14 points at halftime. McIntyre ended with 14 rebounds and three blocks. McIntyre and Bravo-Harriott led the Rockets to a 35-19 lead at half.
Toledo head coach Tricia Cullop said “One thing we really focused on with her(McIntyre) was to continue to work hard and battle. I thought she made some difficult catches and got fouled, and either put them in or got to foul line.”
Bonas was led at halftime by senior Mariah Ruff and freshman Emily Calabrese with six points each. Calabrese ended with seven points and seven rebounds while Ruff finished with eight points and four rebounds.
Third quarter sophomore Danielle Migliore hit three three-pointers. These were the only three-pointers of the game for the Bonnies. Migliore was the only Bonnie in double-figures with 11 points. Despite Migliore’s effort Toledo ended the quarter with a buzzer beater by McIntyre. Rockets led 47-28 going into the fourth.
The Bonnies were still hustling despite the score being out of reach. Sophomore Rhianna Council scored five points four rebounds and three assists. In the fourth Council got a steal and helped Ruff get a layup, then on the preceding inbounds pass stole that pass as well and got the layup.
“This team still competes, they’re a little shorthanded, we’re really small and we still battle and compete,” said Fleming.
The Bonnies next test is at home Saturday at 7 p.m. against Penn State
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