TOLEDO, Ohio—The Vandal women's basketball team looked to open the Glass City Classic on a high note on Saturday. Instead Idaho suffered its fourth road loss of the season, falling to the host Toledo Rockets, 80-67, at Savage Arena.
Fouls and frustrations piled up for the Vandals on Saturday. Ali Forde and Brooke Reilly each picked up quick fouls in the first half, limiting their time on the court. Reilly fouled out midway through the second half much to the dismay of head coach Jon Newlee, who would pick up a double-technical immediately following Reilly's fifth foul. Forde fouled out with 13 points with just over two minutes left to play.
“We are a different team when Ali is in the game,” associate head coach Christa Sanford said. “Defensively, you cannot really go around her. She is a shot blocker and when she gets out of the game we have to find some other combinations. When we call on other players to fill that role they really need to take ownership in their play. Today was Brooke's first game back, so we expected her to have to build a rhythm back. Losing Ali hurt us, no question.”
Idaho (4-5) shot 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the floor, slightly below its season average. Stacey Barr led the way on offense. She finished with a game-high 28 points, just shy of her third double-double of the season with nine rebounds. Christina Salvatore caught fire late, hitting two three-pointers get her into double figures with 12 points. She and Forde each totaled nine boards to match Barr on the glass.
Toledo (4-3) outworked the Vandals beneath the basket. The Rockets totaled 55 rebounds, including 34 on the defensive side of the floor. Idaho was able to grab 37 total rebounds, but limited to only 11 on offense. The Rockets took advantage of their play down low, determining the game's outcome with 28 second-chance points.
Inma Zanoguera paced the Rockets with 20 points and a game-high 21 rebounds. Ana Capotosto hit three three-pointers on her way to an 18-point performance. Toledo's bench outscored Idaho's, 21-5.
“We did not have the intensity today,” Sanford noted. “We did not come out and play the way we normally do and we have not really seen this since our first game at CSUN. Not showing up and not executing the gameplan is what was disappointing from a coaching perspective.”
Idaho drew to within seven after receiving an offensive spark from Newlee's ejection. Zanoguera hit three of the four technical free-throws awarded to the Rockets to give Toledo a 17-point lead with 7:21 to play. Free throws from Forde and Barr, followed by a Connie Ballestero three gave Idaho seven unanswered points. The Vandals would get another three from Salvatore and a basket from Agueda Trujillo to complete the 12-2 run with 3:50 to play.
Idaho was outscored 22-16 over the final 3:15, putting an end to its comeback attempt.
The Vandals have a quick turnaround playing Southeast Missouri State tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. PT to conclude its two-game stay at the Glass City Classic. The game can be heard on AM 1400, beginning at 8:45 a.m.
