TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo dropped a 65-56 decision against Mid-American Conference East Division leader Miami on Wednesday before 3,407 fans in Savage Arena. With the loss, UT falls to 15-9 overall, 7-6 in the league. 

Senior Kaayla McIntyre paced two Rockets in double figures with a season-tying best 24 points, to go along with nine boards and three blocked shots. McIntyre converted 11-of-17 shots from the field and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe to surpass the 20-point barrier for a second-straight game and seventh time this year.

In two match-ups against Miami in 2019, the Toledo native averaged 23.5 points and 9.0 rebounds, shooting an impressive 65.6 percent (21-of-32) from the floor.

Senior Mikaela Boyd added 10 points and eight caroms in a squad-tying best 36 minutes. Junior Sara Rokkanen also chipped in seven points off the bench and junior Mariella Santucci had six points and a contest-tying high five helpers. 

As a team, the Rockets converted 40.7 percent (24-of-59) from the floor, including 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from three-point land, and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the free throw line to suffer their third-consecutive setback against Miami (20-4, 11-2 MAC).  

Toledo did a majority of its damage close to the basket, finishing with a decisive 40-24 edge in points in the paint. 

Lauren Dickerson led Miami with a game-high 28 points and four thefts, while Sylvania native Kendall McCoy had 13 points and a game-best 10 caroms.

The RedHawks shot a sizzling 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from three-point land to help them record their 10th-consecutive triumph, including a game-high five treys from Dickerson. The third-year guard was 0-of-4 from three-point range over the previous two contests. 

Toledo entered tonight's match-up leading the MAC in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.260) and three-point field-goals allowed (56, 4.7) in conference contests.

FIRST QUARTER
• In a fast-paced opening 10 minutes, the RedHawks held a 22-16 lead thanks to 13 points from Dickerson. The 2017-18 first-team All-MAC honoree shot an impressive 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to give the visitors an early two-possession advantage.

• The Rockets rode the hot-hand of McIntyre in the quarter, as she hit 5-of-6 shots from the field and finished with 10 points.

SECOND QUARTER
• Toledo's deficit grew to as many as seven in the opening 20 minutes, but 10 points from Boyd in the period trimmed it to only three, 35-32, at intermission. The Hillside, Ill. native was credited with four layups and a mid-range jumper to make it a one-possess difference at the break.

• Twelves of the Rockets' 14 fields goals in the first half came in the paint.  

THIRD QUARTER
• McIntyre opened the second half with a traditional three-point play to knot the score at 35-35, but Miami countered with a pivotal 17-5 burst to claim a 52-40 lead at the 4:04 mark. The RedHawks were lethal from three-point range in the rally, draining four triples to establish an advantage they would not surrender.  

• Toledo momentarily pulled within single digits, before a pair of free throws from Dickerson and a jumper by Kristen Levering set Miami's lead at 56-46 heading into the final 10 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER
• UT did not go down without a fight though, and closed the gap to four points, 58-54, with 1:58 left in regulation on the strength of layups from sophomore Tanaya Beacham, McIntyre and Rokkanen.

• Unfortunately for the Rockets, Miami shot an efficient 7-of-10 from the free throw line in the quarter to make the final score 65-56.

UP NEXT
• The Rockets will travel to MAC West Division rival Ball State (7-18, 2-11 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 23. The opening tip against the Cardinals is slated for 4:30 p.m. in Worthen Arena and will be streamed on ESPN3.

• UT and BSU will meet for the second time this year and 81st time overall. The Rockets claimed a 65-58 home victory against the Cardinals in their MAC opener on Jan. 5 in Savage Arena. 

• Toledo leads the all-time series vs. Ball State, 55-25, and has won three of the last four match-ups against its division foe. UT also maintains a 23-15 advantage in games played in Worthen Arena but has dropped four of the last five in Muncie.

• A season ago, UT suffered a 78-73 road setback at BSU (Feb. 24).


Highlights from UT's game against Miami.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Senior Kaayla McIntyre post-game.