TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo secured a 65-61 nail-biting victory against Akron in Wednesday's Mid-American Conference action before 3,739 fans in Savage Arena. With the heart-pounding win, the Midnight Blue & Gold improves to 8-7 overall, 3-1 in the league.

The Rockets led by 19 points late in the third quarter, before the Zips (8-7, 1-3 MAC) went on a 25-4 run to take a 56-54 advantage with 4:09 left in regulation.

Toledo did not panic though, utilizing a pivotal 9-0 burst to help stretch its winning streak to a season-best three-consecutive games. 

Freshman Sophia Wiard sparked the Rockets' late rally by scoring six of her 10 points in the final minute. Classmate Quinesha Lockett added three points in the waning moments of regulation and junior Tanaya Beacham accounted for the other two in the run to propel Toledo to its fourth-consecutive home victory.

For the game, Lockett paced the victorious Rockets with 11 points, followed closely by senior Mariella Santucci and Wiard with 10 each. 

Toledo also received eight points from both junior Nakiah Black and Beacham, along with seven from senior Sara Rokkanen. Black flirted with posting only the second triple-double in program history, finishing with a team-best nine rebounds and a game-high six assists. 

As a team, Toledo shot a respectable 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the floor, including 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc, and a solid 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the free throw line.

The Rockets also had 16 assists with only 14 miscues, marking the fourth time in the last five games they totaled more helpers than turnovers, and a season-tying best nine thefts.

Haleigh Reinoehl and Jordyn Dawson led Akron with a game-high 15 points each, while Caitlin Vari had 12. Reinoehl also ripped down a contest-best 10 caroms to post her team-high fifth double-double.

FIRST QUARTER
• Toledo strung together a pair of 7-0 runs in the opening quarter and held a 20-7 lead after the opening 10 minutes. 

• The Rockets converted an impressive 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe to help them build an early double-digit advantage.

• Eight different Rockets scored in the period, including an off-balance layup from freshman Soleil Barnes just before the buzzer sounded to ignite the home team's bench and crowd.

• As efficient as Toledo was offensively in the quarter, its defense was just as stout. The Rockets limited Akron to three baskets and 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from the floor.

SECOND QUARTER
• Toledo quickly extended its advantage to 15 points, 28-11, on the strength of three-consecutive close-range shots from senior transfer Arianne Whitaker, Rokkanen and Beacham to force the Zips to burn an early timeout at the 6:20 mark.

• Toledo did not skip a beat following the stoppage in play, benefiting from late baskets from Whitaker and Santucci to take a 38-19 lead into intermission.

• Santucci was responsible for 13 points in the first half, tallying seven points and three helpers. The home team also received six points from Beacham and five each by Rokkanen and Black to help them double up the Zips.

THIRD QUARTER
• Toledo pushed its lead to 20 points, 47-27, midway through the stanza, but the Zips countered with a late 12-5 run to set the score at 52-39 heading into the final period. 

• Dawson triggered UA's rally with 11 points in the quarter, including seven in final three minutes, to make it a five-possession affair. 

FOURTH QUARTER
• The Zips continued to attack at the outset of the final period, scoring 17 of the first 19 points to assume a 56-54 lead with 4:09 left in regulation. Back-to-back triples from Alyssa Clay and traditional three-point plays by Shayna Harmon and Vari gave the visitors their first lead since the opening basket. 

• The Rockets needed an answer and they got it in a big way, ripping off nine-consecutive points to put the lead back in their favor, 63-56, with 30 seconds remaining.

• Lockett started the pivotal run with a free throw, followed by consecutive close-range baskets from Beacham, Lockett and Wiard. Wiard also ended the late stretch with two more charity tosses to give Toledo a lead it would not give up. 

UP NEXT
• Toledo will entertain arch-rival Bowling Green (7-9, 0-4 MAC) on Saturday, Jan. 18. The MAC cross-division showdown is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed on ESPN3.


Highlights from Toledo's win over Akron.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Senior Mariella Santucci post-game.


Freshman Quinesha Lockett post-game.