Toledo Suffers First Loss of Season vs. KSU, 61-57

Sunday, December 13

Toledo, Ohio

2:00 P.M.

University of Toledo

3-1,1-1MAC

Kent State

2-2,2-0MAC

Kent St.

Toledo

Sophomore Mali Morgan-Elliott tied her career-high with 12 points against Kent State on Sunday at home.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Suffers First Loss of Season vs. KSU, 61-57

12/13/2020 5:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Kent State at Toledo (Dec. 13)

TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 61-57 decision against Kent State in Sunday's Mid-American Conference action in Savage Arena. With the setback, the Rockets fell to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the league.

The Midnight Blue & Gold put forth a furious fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Golden Flashes, 21-10, over the final 10 minutes and had a chance to tie the contest in the final minute.

Sophomore Sophia Wiard paced Toledo with 14 points, followed closely by classmates Quinesha Lockett and Mali Morgan-Elliott with 13 and a career-tying best 12 points, respectively. Freshman Khera Goss added nine points in a game-high 39:00 minutes.

Morgan-Elliott spearheaded the Rockets' comeback with eight points in the fourth quarter, while Wiard and Lockett contributed four points each to give them a chance in the waning moments. Unfortunately for Toledo, it was not able to complete the comeback and as a result saw its five-game win streak come to an end, dating back to last season.

As a team, Toledo shot 40.0 percent (22-of-55) from the field, including 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from three-point land, and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the charity stripe.

Nila Blackford paced Kent State (2-2, 2-0 MAC) with a game-high 21 points and a contest-best 15 boards to post a double-double, while Mariah Modkins and Casey Santoro had 10 and nine points, respectively.

The Golden Flashes finished with a sizable 48-28 edge on the glass and a 13-0 advantage in second-chance points to escape the "Glass City" with their fourth win in last five meetings against Toledo.

FIRST QUARTER
• The duo of Goss and Lockett accounted for 12 of the Rockets' opening 17 points, helping them build a 19-17 lead after 10 minutes. They combined to shoot 4-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line, giving Toledo an early two-point advantage.

SECOND QUARTER
• The Golden Flashes ripped off the first 13 points in the second period to assume a 30-19 advantage at the 5:51 mark. Santoro ignited KSU's game-changing burst, burying a triple and knocking down a pair of free throws to force Toledo to burn a timeout.

• Toledo did not panic, scoring eight of the final 10 points to close the margin to 32-27 at intermission. Lockett started and ended the Rockets' late rally with a pair of close-range shots to make it a five-point difference at the break.

• Lockett paced the home team with nine points in the opening half, followed closely by Goss with seven, while Blackford led KSU with a game-high 10.

THIRD QUARTER
• KSU began the second half the same way it started the second quarter, utilizing a pivotal 12-1 run to extend its advantage to 44-28. Blackford triggered the back-breaking burst with three layups to force Toledo to halt play at the 2:52 mark.

• The Rockets needed a boost to stop Kent State's momentum, and Wiard delivered with five-consecutive points to make the score 51-36 heading into the final 10 minutes. Toledo's team captain tallied a layup and a triple off a steal to start Toledo's comeback.

FOURTH QUARTER
• Morgan-Elliott fed off Wiard's solid play to end the previous quarter, nailing a pair of three-point field goals to ignite a 14-2 rally to close the margin to 53-50. The home team also received baskets from senior Tatyana Davis, Wiard, Lockett and Goss to make it a one-possession game with 5:20 left in regulation.

• Unfortunately for the Rockets, KSU retaliated with a back-breaking offensive putback from Blackford and a trey by Katie Shumate to halt Toledo's momentum.

• Toledo fought back once again and benefited from a layup by Morgan-Elliott and Lockett to pull within three points, 58-55, with 26 seconds left, but Kent State put the game away on two free throws each by Modkins and Blackford to make the final score 61-57.

UP NEXT
• The Rockets will host Atlantic 10 member Duquesne (2-1) on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.

Sophomore Mali Morgan-Elliott post-game.