University of Toledo
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Toledo rallies to defeat Eastern Michigan, 65-55
2/22/2003 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2003
Toledo, OH - Junior guard Mary Blessing scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in the second half as Toledo rallied to defeat Eastern Michigan, 65-55, at Savage Hall on Saturday night. Sophomore center Karen Hoogendam tied her career best with 17 points and added 11 rebounds.
The victory clinched a bye for Toledo (18-7, 11-3 MAC) in next month's Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Rockets are tied with Ball State for first place in the MAC West Division with two games left in the regular season. EMU fell to 10-14, 7-6 MAC.
The season-high 3,931 Rocket fans who braved a severe winter storm saw their team storm out to an 8-2 lead early on, but EMU rallied to take a 26-25 halftime lead. EMU stretched the led to five with 15:08 to play before the Rockets took over. Blessing scored nine points and Hoogendam added four in a 19-6 Toledo run that gave UT a 52-44 lead with 7:16 to play. EMU could pull no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Toledo outrebounded EMU, 36-34, after trailing on the board in the first half, 24-14.
Toledo can clinch the No. 1 seed in the tournament with wins at Northern Illinois on March 1 and Central Michigan at home on March 4. UT would receive the No. 1 seed if it ties Ball State for first place because the Rockets defeated the Cardinals twice this season.
