KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Senior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott poured in a game-high 24 points to help Toledo close out the month of January with a 78-73 victory over Western Michigan on Wednesday in University Arena. With the hard-fought win, UT improves to 15-7 overall, 6-4 in the Mid-American Conference.

Bravo-Harriott paced a season-tying best four Rockets in double figures, including 10 clutch points in the fourth quarter, to lift the 2017 MAC Champions to their eighth-straight triumph over the Broncos (12-10, 5-5 MAC). The two-time All-MAC honoree shot an efficient 8-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line to surpass the 20-point barrier for a second-consecutive contest.

Joining Bravo-Harriott in double figures were junior Kaayla McIntyre, junior Mikaela Boyd and junior Olivia Cunningham with 17, 14 and 11 points, respectively.

The Midnight Blue & Gold also received nine points and a season-tying best seven helpers from sophomore Mariella Santucci.

As a team, the Rockets shot a sparkling 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from three-point range, and a season-high 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the charity stripe to emerge victorious in Kalamazoo for a fourth-straight time.

Breanna Mobley led WMU with 20 points and a contest-best 13 boards, followed closely by Deja Wimby with 19 points.

The Rockets came out firing and shot a sizzling 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the floor in the first quarter to take an early 20-16 lead. Boyd knocked down all three of her shots from the field to lead the attack in the opening 10 minutes, followed by Santucci with five.

UT stayed aggressive offensively in the second period, benefiting from six points by Bravo-Harriott and five from Cunningham to assume a 37-31 lead at the intermission. The Rockets' duo each converted a pair of baskets and one free throw in the quarter to give the visitors a two-possession cushion at the break.

Toledo was also able to force WMU into committing eight fouls in the stanza and took advantage of the opportunity to score points at the stripe. They shot 8-of-10 from the free throw line, while WMU was only 2-of-2.

The Rockets remained red-hot shooting the ball at the outset of the third period, converting six of its first eight field-goal attempts to extend the lead to 49-38 at the 5:27 mark. UT received a pair of buckets from both Bravo-Harriott and McIntyre to make it a double-digit difference.

Toledo continued to shoot lights out in the quarter and held a 59-48 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes. They drained a sensational 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the floor, sparked by three baskets from McIntyre.

The Broncos made a push early in the fourth quarter on the heels a 15-8 run to cut the margin to 67-63 with 5:01 left in regulation. Wimby triggered the burst with eight points to pull the home team within four points at the midway point.

Bravo-Harriott initially stopped WMU's momentum registering seven-straight points, but Western Michigan eventually closed within two, 74-72, after Najee Smith buried a triple from the corner at the 1:57 mark.

Toledo would not be denied done the stretch, though, receiving a pair of free throws from both Boyd and Santucci to close out its scoring. The Rockets also tightened up its defense and did not allow WMU to tally another field goal, making the final score 78-73.  

The Rockets return to action on Saturday, Feb. 3 when they entertain MAC East Division frontrunner Buffalo (16-4, 7-2 MAC). Game time versus the Bulls is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

UT and UB will meet for the second time this year and 28th time overall. The Rockets dropped an 87-69 road decision against the Bulls on Jan. 20 in Alumni Arena.

Toledo leads the all-time series, 22-5, including a perfect 11-0 ledger in games played at home with an average margin of victory of 14.2 ppg (73.6-59.4). A season ago, Toledo claimed an 85-63 home victory (Feb. 1). 

In conjunction with Saturday's home contest against the Bulls, UT will host the third-annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. National Girls and Women in Sports Day honors the accomplishments and hard work of female student-athletes in the classroom, in sports and in the community. The day will showcase UT's current female student-athletes, staff and coaches and thank them for all of their hard work.

The sports of soccer, volleyball, tennis and softball will be represented at the event on the concourses at Savage Arena between 12:30-2:00 p.m., prior to the start of the game. Those women's teams will each have their own station where they will sign autographs, host an activity and interact with fans.