TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo did more than hold its own against defending national champion Notre Dame in Savage Arena, but it just wasn't enough, as the Midnight Blue & Gold suffered a 72-56 setback. Today's non-conference match-up was played before 6,059 fans in Savage Arena, the third-largest crowd in school history. The loss snaps UT's four-game winning streak and drops its record to 6-3 on the season.  

Toledo fed off the electric crowd all afternoon and gave the second-ranked Fighting Irish everything it could handle, as the contest featured four ties and six lead changes. 

Senior Mikaela Boyd paced Toledo with 15 points, while senior Kaayla McIntyre and junior Mariella Santucci had 10 each. 

Junior Sara Rokkanen added eight points and sophomore Tyra Carlsten-Handberg had six.

As a team, the Rockets shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, including 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from three-point land, and 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from the charity stripe. 

Arike Ogunbowale paced the nationally-ranked Fighting Irish with a game-high 22 points, followed by Jessica Shepard, Jackie Young and Mabrina Mabrey with 16, 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Young added a contest-best 10 rebounds to record her second double-double on the year.    

ND connected on 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the floor and a blistering 90.0 percent (9-of-10) from the charity stripe to successfully bounce back from an 89-71 loss to now top-ranked Connecticut on Dec. 2 at home.  

FIRST QUARTER
• The Rockets were fired up at the outset and received a game-high 11 points from Boyd in the opening period. The two-time third-team all-league selection shot an impressive 5-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-1 from three-point land, while playing all but 33 seconds in the quarter.

• Boyd was a one-person wrecking crew at the close of the quarter, scoring UT's final eight points as they trailed 23-20.

• Notre Dame did a majority of its damage inside against the Rockets, scoring 20 of its 23 points in the paint. 

SECOND QUARTER
• Toledo closed the margin to a single point, 36-35, on the strength of back-to-back three-point field goals from Carlsten-Handberg with 2:28 mark remaining in the opening half.

• Unfortunately for the home team, Notre Dame closed the period with a mini 7-2 run to take a 43-37 advantage into the intermission. Four different ND players found the scoring column in the waning moments to make it a two-possession difference at the break.

THIRD QUARTER
• Notre Dame pushed its lead to double figures, 53-40, midway through the third stanza on the heels of an 8-0 run with 2:46 left in the quarter. Young and Ogunbowale scored four points each in the rally to force Toledo to call a timeout.

• UT regrouped following the stoppage in play, as Santucci scored five-consecutive points to make the score 58-45 after 30 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER
• Toledo did not lay down and go quietly in the final quarter though, as McIntyre accounted for five-straight points, but Notre Dame had too much size and strength down the stretch. The Fighting Irish outscored UT, 14-11, in the period to post the 16-point road triumph. 

UP NEXT
• The Rockets will entertain America East Conference member Stony Brook (7-1) on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The opening tip against the Seawolves is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be shown on ESPN3. The contest is the first time UT and SBU will meet on the hardwood.

• Earlier this year, the Rockets dropped a 73-59 decision at AEC member Maine on Nov. 10 in their season opener.


Highlights from UT's game against Notre Dame.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Senior Mikaela Boyd post-game.


Senior Kaayla McIntyre post-game.