TOLEDO, OH – Toledo registered an impressive 79-51 victory over UIC on Thursday in non-conference action before 3,421 fans in Savage Arena. With the double-digit triumph, UT improves to 5-1 on the season.

The Rockets took advantage of a pair of huge runs in both the second and third quarters to secure their sixth-straight win over the Horizon League member Flames (2-3). The Midnight Blue & Gold utilized a 14-0 burst in the second period and a 20-2 rally in the third to turn a close contest into a blowout.
 
Sophomore Mikaela Boyd paced a balanced Toledo attack with a game-high 16 points, to go along with a contest-best eight assists and a game-tying high four steals. Boyd shot 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe to score in double figures for a team-best fifth time this year.

Joining Boyd in double digits were sophomore Olivia Cunningham with a season-high 14 points and senior Janice Monakana had 10. 

UT also benefited from nine points by junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and seven from sophomore Kaayla McIntyre in a winning effort. In total, 11 of the 12 Rockets found the scoring column and only two players did not log at least 10 minutes of game action. 

As a team, Toledo shot a respectable 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the field to improve to 2-0 against Horizon League opponents this year. UT also controlled the interior, posting a season-best 48 points in the paint, and finished with a whopping 37-13 edge in bench points.

The Rockets also did a good job sharing the basketball and dished out 22 assists, their second-highest total of the season.
 
Along with experiencing a solid overall night offensively, UT was stout at the defensive end of the court and held the Flames to 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field. They also forced a season-high 32 miscues and translated them into a season-best 31 points.
 
Melita Emanuel-Carr led the visitors with 15 points before fouling out, followed closely by Taylor Toney with 12.

Despite the blowout victory, the Rockets started slow and trailed 16-12 after 10 minutes. UT shot just 3-of-18 from the floor, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc, in the quarter and found itself behind by two possessions.

Toledo then started to heat up in the second period and put together the first of the two impressive runs to assume a 26-16 advantage at the 6:39 mark. Toledo hit six of its first seven shots from the field to prompt the Flames to call a timeout. Boyd sparked the double-digit rally with seven straight points to turn the momentum in favor of the home team for good.
 
The Rockets' played with at least a seven-point lead for the remainder of the half and took a 39-30 advantage at the intermission. Cunningham was pivotal in the waning moments of the period and scored six points in only five minutes. 

UT shot an efficient 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from the floor and 80 percent (4-of-5) from the charity stripe in the second period to turn a four-point deficit into a nine-point lead.

Toledo did not miss a beat following the break and scored the opening 10 points in the third period to create a 19-point cushion, 49-30, forcing UIC to call another timeout. Boyd was once again at the center of the run, tallying a pair of field goals to kill any threat of a possible visitors comeback.

UIC momentarily stopped the rally with a layup by Emanuel-Carr, but the Rockets responded by pouring in the ensuing 10 points to complete the second run and stretch the margin to 59-32.

When it was all said and done, the Rockets outscored the Flames 25-5 in the third quarter to make it a 64-35 difference after 30 minutes of competition.

As has been the case with all of the Rockets' wins this year, they were not challenged in the final quarter and coasted to the impressive 28-point triumph.

Toledo returns to the hardwood against NAIA member Madonna University (4-4) on Sunday, Dec. 4. The opening tip versus the Crusaders is slated for 2:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3. 
In conjunction with Sunday's non-conference match-up against Madonna, UT will host "Community Day." Tickets will be $7.00 when purchased prior to game day and $11.00 on game day. Fans can also have their photo taken with Santa and the Rocket Line Performance can be seen on the concourse during pre-game festivities.