MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Toledo flexed its muscles at both ends of the court and notched an impressive 80-62 victory at Central Michigan on Wednesday inside McGuirk Arena. With the double-digit road triumph, UT extends its win streak to nine consecutive games and improves to 17-7 overall, 10-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
Senior Haylie Linn drained a career-high six triples to lead the Rockets with a collegiate-best 24 points. Linn shot a scorching 9-of-10 from the field, including 6-of-7 from three-point range, to score in double digits for the eighth time this season.
Sophomore Andola Dortch chipped in 16 points and junior Lecretia Smith contributed 13 points with 10 rebounds to post her second double-double against the Chippewas this season. UT also received an outstanding effort from junior Yolanda Richardson (8 pts., game-high 11 rbs., 2 blks.) to sweep the regular-season series against CMU (13-13, 5-7 MAC) for the fourth time in the last six seasons. All 11 Toledo players that saw game action found the scoring column in the 18-point road victory.
The Rockets connected on a sparkling 53.3 percent (32-of-60) from the field, including an even more impressive 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from three-point land, and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the free-throw line to surpass the 80-point plateau for the second time this season. The 2010-11 MAC regular-season champs also finished with a decisive 45-37 edge on the boards and tallied more assists (16) than turnovers (14) for the fifth time.
After spotting CMU a 10-7 lead to begin the division showdown, UT utilized a game-changing 16-5 run to establish a 23-15 advantage at the 10:23 mark. Linn and Dortch sparked the burst with six points each. It proved to be a lead the Midnight Blue & Gold would not relinquish.
Moments later, Central Michigan trimmed the deficit to four points, but Toledo retaliated with a 9-2 run to push its margin to double figures, 34-23, with 6:32 left in the opening half. Four different Rockets scored in the burst to establish a comfortable cushion.
UT's advantage did not slip below eight points for the remainder of the half, as the visitors took a 44-32 lead into the intermission. The Rockets' 44 points are tied for the third most in a half this season.
Toledo remained red-hot shooting the basketball to start second period, receiving two triples from Linn to extend its cushion to 55-36 with 16:49 left in regulation.
Linn and the Rockets continued to light up the scoreboard and her final three-pointer with the shot clock running out made the score 67-44 at 8:08, forcing CMU into a timeout.
UT put it in cruise control from there and coasted to its fifth consecutive road victory, holding onto a share of the MAC West Division lead in the process with Eastern Michigan.
Brandie Baker paced the Chippewas with 13 points and Taylor Johnson had 12 points.
CMU was limited to 31.8 percent (21-of-66) from the floor and 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from three-point range. The Chippewas entered tonight's game second in the MAC in scoring offense (71.7 ppg).
The Rockets return to the hardwood with a home contest vs. Western Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for Noon in Savage Arena and will be televised on SportsTime Ohio (STO).
In conjunction with Saturday's matinee against the Broncos, UT will hold its fourth-annual "Rockets For the Cure." The game will help benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Northwest Ohio. The team encourages everyone in attendance to wear pink in support of cancer research.
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