AKRON, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's basketball team trailed Akron at halftime, but outscored the Zips 26-13 in the third quarter to help set the tone in the second half of a 75-62 win at Rhodes Arena on Saturday.

Sophomore Quinesha Lockett led all players with 26 points while tallying seven rebounds and four assists, her third straight game with at least 20 points and her 10^th 20-plus point performance this season. Freshman Sammi Mikonowicz had a terrific day as well, contributing a career-high 20 points and pulling down eight rebounds. The Rossford, Ohio native was 6-for-8 from the floor and made 7-of-9 free throws. Sophomore Sophia Wiard also reached double-figures, recording 11 points.
 
The Rockets (9-9, 5-9 MAC) started strong to lead by seven after one quarter, but the Zips (5-12, 2-12 MAC) made up the difference in the second stanza and took a one-point lead into the second half, 35-34. The Rockets regrouped at halftime and used an excellent third quarter to take a double-digit lead over Akron that they would not give up.
 
Toledo outrebounded the Zips, 39-29, and were led by sophomore Mali Morgan-Elliott and her game-high 11 boards.
 
Akron's Jordyn Dawson led her team with 20 points and three steals, while Molly Neitzel added 12 points and four rebounds.
 
 
First Quarter

• Toledo jumped out to a 16-5 lead to start the game, thanks in part to 11 points from Lockett. The sophomore made her first three triples of the game to help give her team a big lead early.
• The Rockets ended the first quarter with a seven-point lead, 21-14, and made 5-of-9 shots from beyond the arc in the first 10 minutes of play.
• Toledo took care of business on the glass, outrebounding the Zips 15-5.

 
Second Quarter

• Akron reversed its fortunes in the second quarter using a 14-5 run that ended with a go-ahead layup from Lonasia Brewer to make the score 28-26.
• The final minutes of the first half were a constant tug-of-war, with the two teams trading leads six times. Akron's Molly Neitzel sunk a shot at the buzzer to send the Zips into the locker room with a one-point lead, 35-34.

Third Quarter

• The Rockets came our firing to start the second half, using a 19-6 run to take a 12-point lead over the Zips, 53-41.
• Lockett and Mikonowicz were crucial to UT's hot start, accounting for 15 of the 19 points during their scoring spurt.
• Toledo's defense held Akron without a field goal in the final 4:15 of the third quarter and also forced six turnovers.

 
Fourth Quarter

• The Rockets held the Zips to 0-of-5 shooting on threes in the fourth quarter and 0-for-9 overall in the second half. Akron's last successful three-pointer of the game came with 2:01 left in the second quarter.
• Wiard started off the quarter with a basket, which started an 11-6 Toledo scoring run to take a 17-point lead, 71-54, at the 5:13 mark for its largest of the game.
• The closest Akron got in the fourth quarter was 11, 71-60, with 4:02 to go. Lockett extended the UT lead by two with a layup, then Mikonowicz forced a turnover on the ensuing UA possession that led to an easy bucket for Wiard to help seal the deal for the Midnight Blue and Gold.

 
Up Next

• Toledo will host Miami on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. before heading to Ypsilanti for a game against EMU on Sunday, Feb. 21.