YPSILANTI, Mich. – Toledo secured a thrilling 70-67 double-overtime victory at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday in the Convocation Center. With the extra-period win, the Rockets improve to 19-9 overall, 11-6 in the Mid-American Conference.

Clinging to a 68-67 lead with only 10 seconds remaining in the second extra period, sophomore Tanaya Beacham came up with a huge offensive rebound to help UT keep possession. Beacham passed the ball out to classmate Nakiah Black, who was immediately fouled. Black calmly made both free throws in the waning seconds to close out the heart-pounding three-point road triumph.

Senior Kaayla McIntyre paced Toledo with a season-high 25 points and 15 boards to post her ninth double-double this year and 18th as a collegiate.

Black contributed 13 points and a season-high four thefts, while junior Mariella Santucci had 11 points and a game-high four helpers. Both Black and Santucci logged a career-high 49 minutes, helping UT sweep the regular-season series against the Eagles (12-16, 5-12 MAC).

Toledo also benefited from eight points each from senior Mikaela Boyd and junior Sara Rokkanen to extend its winning streak to four-consecutive games.

As a team, the Rockets shot 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the field, including 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from three-point land, and 60.0 percent (15-of-25) from the free throw line.

Jenn Annecchiarico led Eastern Michigan with 19 points, Corrione Cardwell had 14 and Danielle Minott finished with 13, respectively.

Despite the heart-pounding win, Toledo was eliminated from earning a first-round bye in next week's MAC Tournament. Earlier in the evening, both Ohio and Buffalo also picked up wins to secure the final two opening-round byes. As a result, the Rockets will host a first-round MAC Tournament Game on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. 

FIRST QUARTER
•  The Rockets received a game-high seven points from McIntyre in the opening period, but the rest of the team mustered only three as they trailed 12-10.

• McIntyre knocked down 3-of-4 shots from the field and 1-of-2 free throws to keep Toledo within one possession following the first 10 minutes.

• Four different Eagles tallied points in the first quarter to put the home team in front by two points.  

SECOND QUARTER
• Points were at a premium in the second stanza, as the teams combined for only 17.

• UT registered nine points, sparked by four from McIntyre, but still trailed 20-19 at the intermission.

• The Rockets shot 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while the Eagles connected on 30.8 percent (8-of-26).

• McIntyre was the one player from either squad that found success shooting the ball, as she made 5-of-8 shots in the first half and finished with 11 points.   
 
THIRD QUARTER
• Toledo began the third period with an 11-3 run to create a 30-23 lead. The Midnight Blue & Gold knocked down five of its first eight shots from the field to assume a seven-point advantage at the 4:25 mark.

• Eastern Michigan momentarily stopped UT's momentum with a traditional three-point play by Autumn Hudson, but the Rockets retaliated with five-straight points to make their lead 35-27. Santucci started the burst with a triple and McIntyre followed with a layup in transition to force EMU to burn its third timeout.   

• The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period, as Toledo held a 38-32 advantage going into the final 10 minutes.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
•  The Eagles put themselves right back into the contest following back-to-back three-point field goals from Courtnie Lewis and Annecchiarico to close the gap to a single point, 44-43, at the 6:08 mark.

• Toledo needed an answer to halt EMU's momentum, and junior Sara Rokkanen and Black answered the call with treys to give the visitors a 50-43 advantage with 3:41 left in regulation.

• Unfortunately for the Rockets, Black's points would be their last in regulation, as EMU scored the final seven to force overtime.

• The Eagles had a chance to win in the final seconds, but Hudson's offensive putback came just after the final horn sounded to send the game into extra time. 

OVERTIME
• In the first overtime, EMU held a 57-54 lead after Lewis converted a three-point play, but UT responded with a layup from McIntyre and one of two free throws by Beacham to force another five minutes.

• McIntyre and the Rockets also had an opportunity to win the game in the final seconds of overtime, but her left-handed layup occurred just after the final horn.

• Early in the second extra period, the teams battled back-and-forth before Boyd and Santucci knocked down back-to-back jumpers to put Toledo ahead for good, 68-65, with 1:02 showing on the clock.

• EMU pulled within one point late, setting the stage for Beacham's huge offensive rebound and Black's two free throws.

• After Black converted both of her charity tosses, Eastern Michigan had one final opportunity to extend the game even further with a last-second triple, but Minott's three-point field-goal attempt was off the mark.

UP NEXT
• The Rockets will wrap up the regular season at MAC West Division champion Central Michigan (23-6, 14-3 MAC) on Saturday, March 9. The opening tip against the Chippewas is slated for 1:00 p.m. in McGuirk Arena and will be shown on ESPN+.

• UT and CMU will square off for the second time this year and 83rd time overall. The Rockets tallied a hard-fought 62-59 home win against the Chippewas on Jan. 23 before 3,603 fans in Savage Arena.

• A season ago, Toledo suffered an 85-47 road setback vs. CMU in Mount Pleasant (Jan. 6).