The women’s basketball team took the floor last night against the University of Toledo, and beat the Rockets 70-53 to complete the BG sweep of UT in the 2009 rivalry week.
BG, 21-2 (10-0 Mid-American Conference) got off to a fast start against UT, 13-10 (7-3 MAC). Following a 4-4 start to the game, the Falcons exploded for an 11-0 run behind the inspired play of Jen Uhl and Tracy Pontius.
“It’s a big threat having more then one player being able to score,” Pontius said. “It shows other teams that they can’t focus on one player.”
However, as is to be expected in a rivalry game, especially one of this magnitude, UT didn’t fold.
UT battled back the entire half, but couldn’t close the gap completely despite coming close several times.
At one point in a mini comeback by the Rockets, Uhl chased down a loose ball, and as she fell out of bounds, threw the pass to Lauren Prochaska who had been left alone beyond the three point line. Prochaska nailed the three, and effectively killed the run.
Later in the half, with Toledo closing the gap again, Prochaska stepped back for a three, with a defender in her face, and drilled it, killing another run.
Pontius lead the way for BG in the first half though, with three drives that ended in lay ups, along with a big three towards the end of the half.
The statistics at the halfway point were relatively even. Toledo had the advantage in rebounds, BG in assists and shooting percentage. BG also had the lead 32-20.
But the Falcons had a shaky start to the second half though.
UT got out to a 14-7 run to start the half, and the Falcons had eight fouls before the Rockets had one, the eighth came in the form of a technical foul on coach Curt Miller.
“Anyone who says that technical fouls aren’t strategic, isn’t telling you the truth,” Miller said. “There are sometimes methods to madness.”
Following the free throws from the technical, Lindsey Goldsberry made a huge play by stepping back and nailing a three pointer to put BG up nine and set the Anderson Arena crowd on fire.
Moments later, Prochaska drove and eventually finished a three point play to add to the BG lead.
Still, UT kept battling back, closing the gap to a two possession game several times.
Finally, with just under four minutes to play, the Falcons began to pull away for good.
Tara Breske went to the line and nailed two free throws, and on the next trip down the floor sank a turnaround, fade away jump shot to put BG up 60-49.
A Pontius three pointer with 2:07 to play served as the nail in the coffin, putting BG up 65-53.
“At the end, I really think we just ran out of gas,” said Toledo coach Tricia Cullop. “We just didn’t have another push in us.”
After a series of free throws, the game would end with BG winning by a wide margin of 17.
“Our kids battled and went toe to toe with a tough Toledo team,” Miller said. “We’re very excited to come away with this win.”
Four Falcons finished the game in double figures. Pontius led the way with 17, while Uhl, Prochaska and Breske had 14,13 and 10, respectively.
The win gives BG 21 straight, and ties the school record for the longest winning streak in school history.
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Contact assistant sports editor Jason Jones at [email protected].
