SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Toledo women's basketball team ended non-conference play with a 60-46 setback at Missouri State on Tuesday.
 
The Rockets (6-3) faced a tough opponent in the Lady Bears (9-2) and had an uncharacteristically off shooting day, making just 27.9 percent (17-for-61) of their shots. Missouri State did not fare much better, shooting 32.8 percent from the floor on 20-for-61 shooting.
 
"Today was a tough game for us," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "We faced a great Missouri State team. I thought we battled well in the first half, especially the first quarter, but our lack of shot-making in the second half made things very difficult for us. I thought we had good looks at the basket, but they weren't falling today. I think there is plenty to learn from this game as we regroup and get ready for conference play." 
 
Junior Sophia Wiard led Toledo in scoring for the second straight game, scoring 11 points on Tuesday. Senior Jayda Jansen tied her season-high with 10 points and pulled down a season-best four rebounds. Freshman Jessica Cook added eight points and five boards, and sophomore Sammi Mikonowicz led UT with seven rebounds.
 
Toledo will begin Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 29 at Kent State (8-1). The Rockets' conference home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 1 at 2:00 p.m. against Akron (3-3).
 
1^st Quarter

• Missouri State scored the first three baskets of the game to take a quick 6-0 lead.
• Wiard knocked down shots on back-to-back Toledo possessions to trim UT's deficit to four, 11-7, with 5:41 to go in the first quarter.
• Another bucket from Wiard at the 1:36 mark put the score at 17-13 in favor of the Lady Bears, sending the Rockets into the second quarter trailing by four points.

 
2^nd Quarter

• Mikonowicz knocked down a three to open scoring in the second quarter and put Toledo within a point, 17-16.
• The Lady Bears then used a 13-1 run to take a commanding 31-17 lead with 1:06 to go in the half.
• A quick 5-0 run from Toledo trimmed the deficit to single digits, but two late Missouri State free throws put the score at 33-22 in its favor heading into halftime.

 
3^rd Quarter

• Missouri State started the second half on an 11-0 run to push its lead into the 20s, 44-22, with 4:05 to go in the quarter.
• The Rockets' second-half scoring drought lasted until the 3:32 mark, when a bucket from sophomore Khera Goss put them on the board in the third quarter.

 
4^th Quarter

• Toledo outscored Missouri State, 16-11, in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to put the Rockets over the hump.
• Cook scored six of her eight points in the final quarter.