TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo took advantage of a strong fourth quarter to pull away from Canisius, 83-65, in Sunday's non-conference finale before 3,379 fans in Savage Arena. With the double-digit win, the Rockets improve to 5-6 on the season.

The Midnight Blue & Gold outscored the Golden Griffins 24-13 in the final 10 minutes to win back-to-back games for the first time this year. Toledo also secured a thrilling 66-65 come-from-behind behind victory against Pacific on Dec. 20 in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas. 

The Rockets shot a sensational 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the field in the fourth stanza against Canisius (1-8), including 3-of-4 from three-point range, and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe to surpass the 80-point mark for the second time this year. 

 For the game, junior Nakiah Black led a balanced Toledo attack with 17 points, to go along with a career-high eight assists and five rebounds. Black's previous-best effort was five helpers on three occasions, most recently against Valparaiso on Nov. 27.

Joining Black in double figures were classmate Tatyana Davis with 15 points off the bench and senior Mariella Santucci had 10. Santucci also finished with a team-high seven rebounds and six assists. 

The victorious Rockets also benefited from eight points by both freshman Quinesha Lockett and senior transfer Arianne Whitaker and seven from junior Tanaya Beacham to help them improve to 13-0 all time against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schools. 

Whitaker played a huge role in Toledo's pivotal fourth quarter onslaught with a team-high six points, followed closely by Davis with five. 

For the contest, Toledo shot a season-high 61.1 percent (33-of-54) from the floor, including a season-best 52.0 percent (season-high 13-of-25) from beyond the arc, and 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from the free throw line.

In addition, the Rockets dished out a season-best 24 assists and had three players with at least five dimes, sparked by Black's career-high eight.

D'Jhai Patterson-Ricks led Canisius with a game-high 18 points, while Tiana Pugh had 13 and Danielle Sanderlin and Anna Sweny had 12 each, respectively.

FIRST QUARTER
• Toledo did not trail at any point in the opening 10 minutes, but eight points late from Patterson-Ricks knotted the score at 21-21.

• Seven different Rockets registered points in the period, including a team-high five each from Davis and Black.

SECOND QUARTER
• Toledo looked to take control early in the second stanza, burying four triples to make the score 35-25 at the 5:32 mark. The quartet of senior Sara Rokkanen, Santucci, Black and Davis each recorded a three-point field goal to force the Golden Griffins to burn an early timeout.

• The stoppage in play played to Canisius' advantage, as it ended the half on a 13-4 run to trim Toledo's lead to 39-38 at the break. Sweny triggered the late rally with six points to make it a one-point difference at intermission.

• Black and Davis paced the home team with eight points each in the first 20 minutes, while Pugh led the visitors with a game-high 11.  

THIRD QUARTER
• Black started the second half red-hot shooting the ball, draining two more treys to make the score 52-44 at the 4:04 mark. The Concord, N.C. native found a couple holes in Canisius' zone defense and knocked down a pair of long-range shots to set the difference at eight points.

• Just like in the second period though, Canisius responded out of the timeout and cut the margin to two points, but a layup by Santucci and a buzzer-beating three-point field goal from Rokkanen made the score 59-52.

FOURTH QUARTER
• The Rockets then blew the game wide open on the strength of two traditional three-point plays from Whitaker, as well as Black's game-high fifth trey, to extend the margin to 70-58 at the 4:52 mark. 

• Moments later, freshman Sophia Wiard and Davis each rattled home triples to put the finishing touches on an impressive home triumph.

UP NEXT
• Toledo will tip off its 39th season of Mid-American Conference play at division rival Western Michigan (6-4) on Saturday, Jan. 4. The MAC West Division showdown is slated for 2:00 p.m. in University Arena.


Highlights from Toledo's win over Canisius.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Junior Nakiah Black post-game.