YPSILANTI, Mich. – Sophomore
Sophia Wiard scored 16 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds but it wasn't enough for the Toledo Rockets in a 69-59 loss at Eastern Michigan on Sunday.
Sophomores
Quinesha Lockett and
Mali Morgan-Elliott added 13 points apiece for Toledo, which shot 32.8 percent from the floor and made just 4-of-21 from long range.
The Rockets (9-11, 5-11 MAC) held a 12-7 lead after one quarter of play and were only down 31-30 at halftime but were playing catch-up most the second half. Toledo cut the lead to 60-56 with just over two minutes to play but missed its final five shots from the floor while Eastern Michigan (10-6, 7-4 MAC) made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"We fought hard today but free throws hurt us," said Head Coach
Tricia Cullop. "If we make a few more free throws then we don't have to foul down the stretch and it's a different game." Toledo made 15-of-24 free throws for the game, missing six in the second half. EMU made 14-of-17 from the line.
First Quarter
- EMU scored first but the Rockets answered with a 9-0 run to take a 9-3 and force the Eagles to call timeout with 4:55 left
- The Eagles chipped the lead to two but Sophia Wiard hit a three-pointer at the horn to give Toledo a 12-7 lead after one quarter.
Second Quarter
- Toledo built its lead to 24-14 with 5:30 left following a pair of Quinesha Lockett jumpers.
- EMU closed out the quarter with an 11-1 run to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room.
- The Eagles got back into the game on the strength of seven three-pointers in the quarter, four by Jenna Annecchiarico.
- Wiard led Toledo with eight first-half points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor.
Third Quarter
- The Eagles opened the quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 40-32 lead. Wiard made a pair of free throws to trim the lead to 40-34 at the media timeout with 4:46 left.
- EMU had a steal and a layup by Ce'Nara Skanes at the end of the quarter to up the Eagles' lead to 49-40.
Fourth Quarter
- Toledo cut the lead to six, 55-49, on a three by Wiard with 5:56 left.
- The EMU lead narrowed to four, 60-56, when Lockett made a layup with 2:04 left.
- EMU made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Up Next
- Toledo will travel to Central Michigan on Wednesday in a 5:00 p.m. clash in Mount Pleasant. The contest can be seen on ESPN3.