Final Stats
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Toledo dropped a 54-51 decision at Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Rose Arena. The Rockets have now dropped four in a row and stand at 9-16 overall, 4-11 in the league. Regardless of Wednesday's outcome at Western Michigan, UT will be the No. 6 seed in the West Division in the upcoming MAC Tournament and play at the No. 3 seed in the East Division.
Junior Savannah Werner paced two Rockets in double figures with 16 points and eight rebounds. Classmate Danielle Bishop chipped in 13 points and seven caroms. UT shot 43.1 percent (22-of-51) from the field, but only 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from the charity stripe.
Ann Skufca led three Chippewas in double digits with a game-high 18 points and five blocked shots. Candace Wilson (11 pts.) and Chasidy Myers (10 pts.) also had at-least 10 points. CMU shot 43.5 percent (20-of-46) from the floor and 50.0 percent (9-of-18) from the free throw line.
"I thought both teams had their opportunities, but Central Michigan stepped up and made the big shots down the stretch," Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen said.
Toledo looked good at the start and led 9-3 on the strength of five points inside from Werner. CMU battled back to get within one at the 13:33 mark, 11-10, but an 11-3 Rocket run gave the visitors its biggest lead of the game midway through the half, 22-13.
The Rockets remained in control over the next couple of minutes as both teams struggled to find the basket. The Chippewas rallied with an 8-0 run to tie the contest at 26-26 with seven seconds left in the frame only to have Bishop hit a long two-pointer at the buzzer to give UT a two-point lead advantage at the half.
To begin the second half, the teams exchanged baskets before a triple by CMU's Wilson gave the home team its first lead of the game, 33-32, with 16:13 left in regulation. The lead was short lived as UT's Bishop drained triple on its ensuing possession to retake the advantage.
Over the next couple of minutes, neither team could put anything together offensively until five-consecutive points from Lindsay Mecoli gave CMU a 44-40 edge with 9:15 left. It was a lead the home team would not surrender. Toledo had its opportunities during the stretch, but tallied only five points over eight minutes.
Toledo did keep things close as it never trailed by more than five. The Rockets were even able to get within a single point on two occasions down the stretch, but CMU would not relinquish the lead. The second time UT got within one was with 14.5 seconds left on a Werner lay up to make the score 52-51, but CMU's Sharonda Hurd hit two free throws to push its advantage to three with 9.4 seconds remaining. The Rockets had one final chance, but sophomore Olivia Terry's desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.
Toledo wraps up the regular season on Wednesday, March 1 at Western Michigan. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. at University Arena.
