TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's basketball team shot over 50 percent from the floor in the second half, but could not overtake Ball State in an 88-77 loss to the Cardinals at Savage Arena on Saturday.

Toledo had five players reach double figures in scoring, led by sophomore Quinesha Lockett and her 24 points. Lockett was 9-of-14 from the field and dished out a team-high five assists too. Sophomore Sophia Wiard registered 12 points, while classmate Mali Morgan-Elliott and freshman Sammi Mikonowicz both had 10 points.

Freshman Halle Idowu had her best game of the season, recording the first double-double of her collegiate career by scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, both of which are career-high totals. Idowu's performance was the seventh double-double by a Rocket player this season.

As a team Toledo shot 45.5 percent from the field (30-for-66) and made 75 percent of its free throws (9-for-12). The Rockets turned the ball over just seven times, the lowest turnover total of the season.

The Cardinals started Saturday's action with a 16-4 run to grab control of the game early. The momentum swung in Toledo's favor early in the second quarter after an 11-1 spurt from the Midnight Blue and Gold made it a one-score game, 24-21, with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. The Rockets cut their deficit to single-digits in the third quarter, during which they shot 64.7 percent from the floor. The well ran dry to start the fourth quarter, though, as Ball State began play with an 11-1 run and Toledo missed its first eight shots to fall behind for good.

The loss drops Toledo to 10-12 on the season and 6-12 in Mid-American Conferece play. Ball State improves to 13-9 and 11-7 in league play.

Ball State shot exactly 50 percent from the field on Saturday (27-of-54) and from three-point range (12-of-24). Sydney Freeman and Thelma Dis Agustsdottir did the bulk of the offensive damage for the Cardinals. Freeman scored a game-high 28 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 6-of-9 from long range and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Dis Agustsdottir knocked down 6-of-10 shots from beyond the arc to tally 18 points on the afternoon. Oshlynn Brown had a game-high 12 rebounds and scored nine points.

First Quarter

• Toledo fell behind early, 14-4, after Ball State made five of its first seven shots. Dis Agustdottir knocked down two early three to help build the Cardinals' early lead.
• The Ball State lead grew to as much as 13 in the first quarter, but Toledo was able to keep its deficit to single digits heading into the second, 22-13.
• The Rockets were able to keep pace with the Cardinals by holding them to zero field goals in the final 4:40. BSU's only points in that span came from three free throws.

Second Quarter

• After Ball State opened the scoring in the second quarter to build its lead to 11, the Rockets rattled off the next eight points to make it a three-point game, 24-21. Freshman Khera Goss' corner three at the 5:53 mark capped UT's 8-0 run.
• Dis Agustsdottir answered with a trey of her own to put Ball State back up by six, 27-21, with 5:38 to go in the first half. It was the first field goal for the Cardinals in over 3:00 of game time.
• Toledo ended the first half on the wrong note, however, missing six of its final seven shots to allow Ball State to take an 11-point lead into the locker room, 38-27.

 Third Quarter

• Ball State started the second half with a three-pointer from Freeman to push its lead to 14, 41-27.
• Toledo got hot from the floor in the third quarter, making 8-of-9 shots at one point and pulling within three, 51-48, one a three-pointer from Morgan-Elliott.
• The Rockets shot a blistering 64.7 percent from the floor in the third quarter and trailed by just five, 60-55, heading into the fourth.
• Lockett scored seven points and made all three of her field goal attempts in the third period.

 Fourth Quarter

• Toledo quickly found itself in a deeper hole to start the fourth quarter after Ball State came out making four of its first five shots to take a 71-56 lead at the 6:53 mark.
• The Cardinals outscored the Rockets 14-1 in the first half of the fourth quarter to take control of the game. Whereas BSU started the final frame making five of its first eight shots, Toledo missed its first eight field goals.
• The Rockets' shots started falling near the end of the game, allowing them to go on an 11-0 run in the closing minutes and cut the deficit to single digits. Toledo capped the scoring run with two quick threes, Wiard drained one from long range then Morgan-Elliott capitalized off a Ball State turnover to knocked down a trey with 1:08 to go that made the score 76-67.
• The Cardinals iced the game in the final minute, hitting all 12 of their free throw attempts.

 
Next Up
Toledo visits Western Michigan on Wednesday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. before returning home to host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m.

The Rockets will be hosting a Virtual Sellout promotion for its Saturday game against EMU. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase a seat, an entire row, an entire section or a courtside seat in Savage Arena for one or both games, and also take advantage of several special promotions. Please visit this link for more information.


Highlights from Toledo's game against Ball State.


Head Coach Tricia Cullop post-game.


Sophomore Quinesha Lockett post-game.