TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo outscored Oakland 41-24 in the second half en route to claiming a 71-59 victory in Sunday's season opener at Savage Arena. The Rockets trailed the Golden Grizzlies 35-30 at intermission before exploding for 41 points in the second half to take down the Horizon League member Golden Grizzlies (0-2).

The Midnight Blue & Gold connected on a sizzling 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the floor over the final 20 minutes to register its third-consecutive triumph over Oakland.

Sophomore Quinesha Lockett tallied 16 of her career-high 22 points after intermission to lead the Rockets' attack. Lockett, who also collected a game-best four steals, finished 10-of-15 from the field and 2-of-5 from the free throw line to top the 20-point barrier for a second time as a Rocket.

Classmate Sophia Wiard added a career-high 15 points, a collegiate-best 10 rebounds and a game-high five assists to post her first-collegiate double-double. 

Toledo also received 10 points each from senior Tatyana Davis and freshman Sammi Mikonowicz, as well as benefited from eight points by newcomer Khera Goss to register its 14th win in its last 15 games against Horizon League foes. Davis also contributed a career-high three rejections. 

The Rockets controlled the action close to the basket, posting a decisive 42-28 edge in points in the paint.  

For the game, the Rockets shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field, including 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from three-point land, and 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the charity stripe.

Alona Blackwell paced Oakland with 22 points, followed by Kahlaijah Dean with 15.

FIRST QUARTER
• Lockett scored six quick points to give the home team an early 8-2 lead, forcing Oakland to call an timeout at the 7:30 mark.

• The Golden Grizzlies settled down following the stoppage in play, utilizing a 10-2 burst to take a 12-10 advantage with 3:45 left in the opening period. Four different OU players tallied points in the run to give the visitors their first lead. 

• Toledo momentarily retook the lead after Davis buried the first of her two triples, but Oakland responded by scoring the final seven points to hold a 19-13 advantage after the opening 10 minutes. Blackwell keyed the late burst with a trey and a layup to put the visitors in front by six.

SECOND QUARTER
• The Rockets trimmed the deficit to two points in the opening minutes of the second quarter, only to have the Golden Grizzlies rattle off seven of the next nine to make the score 26-19. Once again, Oakland used balanced scoring to force Toledo to burn a timeout at the 5:43 mark. 

• Toledo's Mikonowicz kept the home team within striking distance late in the first half with six points down the stretch, making the score 35-30 at intermission. 

• Blackwell paced Oakland with a game-high 12 points in the opening 20 minutes, while Wiard led Toledo with eight.

THIRD QUARTER
• After picking up two fouls in the early going and sitting the entire second period, Lockett started the second half on fire. The Omaha, Neb. native scored the first five points to draw the teams even at 35-35. The second-year captain was credited with a pair of layups and one charity toss during the opening moments, prompting Oakland to call another timeout at the 8:01 mark.

• The Rockets continued to push the action following the timeout, extending their lead to seven points, 48-41, after 30 minutes of competition.   

FOURTH QUARTER
• The Golden Grizzlies did not go quietly and made it a one-possession game, 52-50, following six-consecutive points from Dean with 6:55 left in regulation.

• Toledo did not panic though, putting together a game-sealing 15-2 run to open up a 67-52 lead at the 3:06 mark. Davis and Wiard delivered big three-point shots during this pivotal stretch to put the game out of reach.

• The Rockets did not allow Oakland to get another closer than 11 points for the remainder of today's season opener. 

UP NEXT
Toledo will entertain Horizon League member Detroit Mercy (0-2) on Saturday, Dec. 5. The opening tip against the Titans is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed on ESPN3.


Highlights from Toledo's win over Oakland.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Sophomore Quinesha Lockett post-game.