Toledo, Ohio - Naama Shafir scored 14 points, including a 6-for-6 performance from the free throw line, to lead Toledo to a 53-39 win in non-conference women's basketball action on Tuesday evening at Savage Arena.  

                Toledo took an early 11-6 lead on four points by Yolanda Richardson, but the Great Danes tied the game at 11:41 after Cassandra Callaway nailed a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc and Sarah Royals drove to the basket to convert a lay-up. The Rockets then went on a 8-0 run over the next four minutes, taking a 19-11 lead on back-to-back baskets by Shafir. Callaway ended the Toledo run with her third 3-pointer of the game at 6:46, pulling UAlbany back to within five, 19-14.

                The Rockets got a trey from Courtney Ingersoll, while Lecretia Smith grabbed her own offensive rebound to put Toledo up, 24-16. However, Callaway continued to carry the Great Danes, hitting baskets on consecutive possessions and draining one of two free throws at 3:21 to keep the game within reach. Adrienne Jones then recorded a steal on the inbounds pass and found the net in the paint, pulling UAlbany to within three, 24-21, prompting Toledo to take a timeout. After Ingersoll nailed her second three of the half, Jones recorded one of UAlbany's four steals in the first, and gave the Great Danes the final possession of the half.  Callaway's shot fell short, and Toledo took a 27-21 lead to the locker room.

                Ebone Henry, who scored her first points of the game with a 3-pointer to start the second half, was fouled behind the arc at 13:33, and hit two-of-three free throws to pull UAlbany to 33-28. Callaway drained her fourth 3-pointer at 11:48 and closed the gap to three, but Shafir, the 2011 WNIT Most Valuable Player, converted a lay-up on the Rockets' next possession to hold onto Toledo's two-possession lead.

                Toledo used a stifling defense to hold the Great Danes at bay, and took a nine-point advantage on a runner in the lane by Richardson.  After the eight-minute media timeout, UAlbany came out firing, using a speedy offense to cut Toledo's lead to 39-35 on a Henry jumper from the left elbow at 6:07. However, the Rockets took advantage of consecutive Great Dane turnovers to score the game's next four points. After a clean block by Forster on Kyle Baumbgartner, she was called for a foul on the ensuing rebound, and Baumgartner gave the Rockets their first double-digit lead of the game with two made free throws.

                Toledo continued to build on its lead in the final minutes, as three different players went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, including two of Shafir's six free throws in the half. Despite an aggressive effort from Forster in the final minute, Toledo was able to hold off the Great Danes for the final 14-point win.

                Callaway led the Great Danes with a game-high 18 points, while Forster led all players with 12 rebounds. However, UAlbany was held to just 30.0-percent shooting from the floor, and committed 25 turnovers. Andola Dortch added 10 points for Toledo (2-1), while Smith grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

                UAlbany (2-3) will return to action after the Thanksgiving holiday, hosting St. Francis (NY) at SEFCU Arena on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m.

Toledo 53, UAlbany 39 (11/22/11 at Toledo, OH (Savage Arena))