TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo closed out the 2020 calendar year in grand fashion, securing a 64-49 victory against North Dakota in Monday's non-conference finale in Savage Arena. With the win, the Rockets improve to 5-1 on the season. 

Sophomore Quinesha Lockett paced the Midnight Blue & Gold with 23 points, a season-high seven boards and three assists. The 2020-21 team captain shot an efficient 6-of-10 from the field in only 23 minutes, including a collegiate-best 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe, marking the first time a Rocket has registered at least 20 points in back-to-back games since Mariella Santucci did it against Kent State and Miami on Feb. 1 and Feb. 5, 2020.

Freshman Sammi Mikonowicz added a season-high 16 points, five caroms and a season-tying best three thefts. Toledo also benefited from eight points each from sophomore Sophia Wiard and freshman Khera Goss to run its all-time record to 6-0 against Summit League foes.

As a team, the Rockets shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field, including 34.4 percent (11-of-32) from three-point land, and a flawless 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Toledo has now made double-digit triples in two of the last four games. They also finished with 15 assists and only 12 turnovers, signifying the second time they had more helpers than miscues this year. 

Juliet Gordon led North Dakota with 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Jacklyn Jarnot chipped in 10 points. UND's leading scorer, Julia Fleecs, was held to a season-low five points. The senior captain entered today's matinee tallying 18.2 ppg. The Fighting Hawks were limited to 29.3 percent (17-of-58) from the floor, including 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from three-point range. 

FIRST QUARTER
• The Rockets exploded out of the gate, scoring 13 of the game's first 15 points. Five different players registered points at the outset, giving the home team a lead they would not relinquish. 

• Toledo's advantage remained at least six points for the remainder of the quarter, leading to a 19-12 score after 10 minutes. 

• The trio of Lockett, Wiard and Mikonowicz accounted for five points each in the first stanza, helping the Rockets build an early two-possession lead.

SECOND QUARTER
• The Rockets quickly doubled their margin to 27-12 on the strength of triples by Wiard and Lockett at the 7:14 mark. 

• Toledo also was strong defensively during the early stages of the second stanza, holding the Fighting Hawks without a field goal for the first five-plus minutes.

• North Dakota did find some rhythm at the end of the half, stringing together a 10-2 rally to make the score 29-22 at intermission. UND's Mikayla Reinke sparked the late run to bring the visitors within two scores at the break.

• Lockett and Wiard paced Toledo with 10 and eight points in the opening 20 minutes, while Gordon led the Fighting Hawks with nine. 

THIRD QUARTER
• Lockett and the Rockets began the second half the same way they started today's non-conference finale, ripping off 13 of the first 16 points to stretch their advantage to 42-25 at the 5:34 mark. The Omaha, Neb. native buried a pair of three-point field goals and converted two free throws to help the Rockets reestablish a double-digit lead.

• Toledo continued to pour it on from there, ending the quarter on a 7-0 burst to take a 51-30 lead into the final 10 minutes. The trio of newcomers Halle Idowu, Goss and Mikonowicz were each credited with points during this late stretch to create a 21-point bulge.

FOURTH QUARTER
• Lockett put the finishing touches on her performance by scoring Toledo's first five points of the quarter to give the home team an insurmountable lead. 

UP NEXT
• The Rockets will host Akron (3-2, 0-2 MAC) on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be televised on ESPN+.


Highlights from Toledo's win over North Dakota.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Sophomore Quinesha Lockett post-game.