The Toledo Rockets were on the road for the first time this season to face off against the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos. Toledo's offense continued to fire on all cylinders and the Rockets dropped the Kangaroos by a score of 96-81. Toledo had not scored that many points in a game since February 3rd, 2003, when the team planted 105 points on Ohio. UT moved to 2-2 on the year with the win.
This game was a bit of a free throw shooting contest as both teams combined for 50 attempts from the line. Toledo went 23-27 (85.2%) and UKMC finished 14-23 (60.9%). Success from the foul line is especially comforting for UT fans who have watched several years of less than stellar charity stripe accuracy recently. On the whole, the Rockets put in their finest shooting performance of the season. They averaged 50.8% from the floor and shot 38.9% from beyond the arc to go with their standout free throw shooting.
Toledo finished with six players in double figures. Inma Zanoguera led the way with 21 points and 9 rebounds in 36 minutes. This season is still fresh but Zanoguera is already putting up strong averages of 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds through four games. Ana Capotosto posted a career high 21 points and contributed 7 rebounds. Andola Dortch had 15 points and 4 assists even though she struggle with foul trouble. Toledo's other double-digit scorers, all with 10 points each, were Janelle Reed-Lewis in 25 minutes, Brianna Jones in 16 minutes and freshman Sophie Reecher in 18 minutes.
UKMC were led by guard Calli White who played all 40 minutes and finished with 18 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Eilise O'Connor had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 39 minutes of play. Forward Taylor Leathers was the only other player in double figures for Kansas City. She had 12 points in only 17 minutes of work. The Kangaroos drop to 0-4 on the year with the loss.
In Rockets injury news, Toledo had a season high nine active players on their roster against UKMC. Freshman Olivia Braun was back in the lineup after missing the Purdue game. Stephanie Recker, who just about had her back snapped in two against Purdue, bounced back and played 25 minutes against Kansas City. Freshmen Elena de Alfredo and Lindsay Baker continue to sit out with injuries although there are rumblings de Alfredo might be available soon.
Coach Cullop and her team are off this weekend and then are back on the road the weekend of November 29th to play in the SMC Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic in Moraga, California. Hopefully that time off gives Toledo's injured players a chance to fully recover and give the Rockets a roster you need more than ten fingers to count.