TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo dropped a 62-55 decision against Kent State in Wednesday's Mid-American Conference action before 3,722 fans in Savage Arena. The loss snapped UT's (13-7, 4-4 MAC) 15-game home winning streak, the sixth-longest unbeaten stretch in school history.

On a night where both teams struggled to find the range from the field, the Golden Flashes' won the MAC cross-division match-up at the free throw line. KSU converted 30-of-38 (78.9 percent) at the charity stripe, while the Rockets shot 12-of-18 (66.7 percent). 

Junior Mikaela Boyd paced UT with 19 points and a game-high 13 boards to post her fifth double-double over the last seven games. Boyd filled up the stat sheet against the reigning MAC East Champion Golden Flashes (10-10, 3-5 MAC), tallying a contest-best five helpers and a game-tying high three steals in a contest-best 39 minutes.

Sophomore Mariella Santucci was the only other Rocket in double figures with a season-tying best 13 points off the bench.

Junior Kaayla McIntyre chipped in with eight points, 10 caroms, a game-high three rejections and a contest-tying best three steals in 35 minutes. Despite the solid numbers across the board, McIntyre was held under 10 points for the first time in the last 17 games.

As a team, the Rockets were limited to 31.7 percent (19-of-60) from the floor, including 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from three-point land.

Jordan Korinek led Kent State with a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds, followed by McKenna Stephens with 10 points, nine boards and a team-high three dimes. Korinek did a vast majority of the damage at the line, shooting a blistering 17-of-18 to help KSU record its first win in Savage Arena since Jan. 27, 2007. 

For the second-straight game, UT did not hold the lead at any point. The Midnight Blue & Gold missed 13 of its first 17 shots from the field and trailed 14-8 after 10 minutes. Boyd was the one Rocket who shot the ball well in the opening stanza, knocking down three of her four field-goal attempts.

Toledo's offensive struggles continued early in the second quarter, as KSU extended the margin to double figures, 24-14, at the 5:43 mark. The home team misfired on six of their initial eight shots to allow the Golden Flashes to expand the difference to double digits.

UT did not panic, though, but rather ended the half on a 9-1 run to close the margin to 27-25. Boyd sparked the late charge with five of the nine points, including her first triple since the 2015-16 campaign, to trim the deficit to two points.

The Hillside, Ill. native was sensational in the opening half, accounting for over half, 13, of UT's points while playing every minute.

The Rockets once again pulled within a basket midway through the third, 33-31, before KSU registered eight of the final 12 points to set the score at 41-35 at the end of the period. Kent State's Stephens triggered the late rally with five points to create a two-possession difference heading into the final 10 minutes.

Toledo closed within three points on five different occasions in the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarter but could get no closer as it dropped its first home game since Jan. 18, 2017. Senior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and McIntyre each contributed six points in the final quarter to bring the home fans to their feet, but it just was not enough to overcome an overall rough night shooting the basketball. 
      
The Rockets will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27 when they travel to arch-rival Bowling Green (10-9, 2-6 MAC). Game time versus the Falcons is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in the Stroh Center and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

UT and BGSU will meet for the only time during the regular season and 77th time overall. Bowling Green leads the all-time series, 42-34, but Toledo has won four in a row and seven of the last eight match-ups against its cross-division foe. The Rockets are also in the midst of a four-game road winning streak versus the Falcons, but BGSU maintains a 20-12 advantage in games played in Wood County.   

A season ago, Toledo secured a 74-59 triumph against Bowling Green in Savage Arena during the regular season (Feb. 11).


Highlights from UT's game against Kent State.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Junior Mikaela Boyd post-game.