TOLEDO, OH – Toledo registered an impressive 74-59 victory over arch-rival Bowling Green on Saturday before 4,363 fans in Savage Arena. With the wire-to-wire win, the Rockets improve to 16-7 overall, 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference.

Sophomore Mikaela Boyd led UT with 18 points and 11 rebounds to post her third double-double in the last four games and team-high sixth on the year. Also scoring in double figures were senior Janice Monakana with 17 points and junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott had 10. The Midnight Blue & Gold also benefited from eight points by sophomore Kaayla McIntyre to tally its fourth win in a row and seventh in the last eight meetings against the Falcons (6-18, 2-10 MAC).

As a team, Toledo shot an efficient 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field, including 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from beyond the arc, and a stout 76.0 percent (19-of-25) from the free throw line.

UT dominated the glass, 45-34, and finished with a sizable 40-24 advantage in points in the paint to improve to 4-1 in its last five contests. Seven different Rockets pulled down at least three boards in tonight's MAC cross-division match-up, spearheaded by Boyd's 11 and Monakana's seven. Boyd has now led the team in rebounds in five-straight games and on a squad-best 13 occasions this season. 

Abby Siefker paced Bowling Green with 12 points, followed closely by Haley Puk and Ashley Tunstall with 11 each.

The Falcons were held in check offensively and limited to 32.3 percent (20-of-62) from the floor, including 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from beyond the arc, to suffer their eighth loss in the last nine games.

The Rockets wasted little time in setting the tone, scoring the first eight points and held a 20-8 lead at the conclusion of the first period. Bravo-Harriott and McIntyre sparked the strong start, combining for 13 points to give the home team an advantage they would not relinquish. Bravo-Harriot contributed a game-high seven points during the opening 10 minutes, while McIntyre had six to help the Midnight Blue & Gold shot an efficient 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the field.

Boyd took over the game in the second quarter, scoring six of her team-high eight first-half points to extend UT's advantage to 38-21 at the intermission. The Hillside, IL native used her quickness to get to the basket and dropped in three shots from close range to bring the home crowd to its feet at the break.

Bowling Green came out of the intermission energized, tallying the first nine points to trim Toledo's lead to 38-30 at the 6:18 mark. Four different Falcons scored in the early burst to make it a three-possession difference.

The Rockets answered right back, though, to halt BGSU's momentum, receiving layups from junior Michaela Rasmussen, Boyd and Bravo-Harriott to push the margin back to double figures, 45-32, with 5:11 remaining in the quarter.

Toledo then rode the hot hand of Monakana to push the lead to 58-44 at the end of 30 minutes and essentially put the game out of reach. The London, England native poured in the team's final 13 points in the period, converting three layups, two treys and one free throw to set the difference at 14 heading into the final stanza.

The teams traded baskets for a majority of the final quarter, before Toledo scored its final nine points at the charity stripe to close out the impressive 15-point home triumph. 
 
The Rockets will return to the hardwood on Wednesday, Feb. 15 when they travel to MAC East Division foe Akron (9-14, 2-10 MAC). The opening tip versus the Zips is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in James A. Rhodes Arena.

In conjunction with Wednesday's game, UA will host Play4Kay to honor the late North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who lost her long battle with breast cancer in 2009.

The contest will help raise awareness for the disease and the Kay Yow Foundation, which supports research, provides grants, and drives inspiration in the fight against women's cancers. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.

UT and UA will square off for the only time during the regular season and the 52nd time overall. The Rockets lead the all-time series, 38-13, but Akron has won the last six meetings against its cross-division foe.

A season ago, UA won the regular-season match-up, 81-71, at home (Jan. 20). The teams then squared off in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament and the Zips secured a 73-71 overtime triumph in Quicken Loans Arena (March 9).  

Toledo also holds a 15-7 advantage in games played in J.A.R., but has dropped four of the last six contests in Summit County.