CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team took down in-state foe Cincinnati on Wednesday afternoon, winning 74-71 in overtime at Fifth Third Arena.
 
The Rockets (3-0) led for much of the game, but the Bearcats (2-2) grabbed the lead at the end of the third quarter and led for much of the fourth. The game headed to overtime after a pair of free throws from senior Sophia Wiard tied the score at 58-58 at the end of regulation, but UC quickly jumped out to a four-point lead in overtime. The Rockets never backed down, and a three-point play by Wiard with 1:13 to go put Toledo on top for the first time in the extra period.
 
Cincinnati's Mya Jackson drilled a three-pointer with 35 seconds left to make it a one-score game, 72-71, and on the ensuing Toledo possession UC corralled a rebound and secured a chance to take the game-winning shot. Junior Nan Garcia provided the play of the game, though, by stealing the ball and drawing a foul to completely flip the script with just seconds remaining. Garcia knocked down both free throws to make it 74-71, and Cincinnati never got a shot off on its final possession of the game.
 
"If we had a young team we may have folded when things weren't going our way, but we have a very experienced team that shows a lot of heart," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "I thought it was important for us to stay focused on the road and I could not be prouder of what I saw from them today."
 
Junior Sammi Mikonowicz recorded her ninth career double-double by scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds Senior Quinesha Lockett was Toledo's leading scorer for the second straight game, tallying 19 points on the afternoon. Sophomore Jessica Cook added 13 points, and Wiard scored nine points while adding five assists and four rebounds.
 
Cincinnati was led by Jackson, who scored a game-high 24 points, and Jillian Hayes, who scored 21 points, 17 of which came in the second half and overtime.
 
As a team, Toledo shot 40 percent from the floor (23-for-58) and the Bearcats knocked down 45 percent of their shots (26-for-58).
 
Next up for Toledo is a marquee matchup against Duke on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1:00 p.m. at Savage Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear gold at the Duke game as part of Toledo's "Gold Rush Week" this week that will highlight big games across Rocket Athletics.
 
Toledo women's basketball season and single-game tickets are on sale now.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at the Sullivan Athletic Complex in Savage Arena, contact the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or go online to UTRockets.com/tix.
 
1^st Quarter

• Cincinnati scored the first two baskets of the game to take an early 4-0 lead.
• The Rockets used a 9-3 run to take its first lead of the game, a 9-7 advantage with 4:46 to go in the quarter. Jansen's trey tied the game at 7-7 and a minute later Wiard's jumper put UT ahead.
• Toledo ended the quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 15-12 lead into the second frame.

2^nd Quarter

• The Rockets opened the second quarter with four straight points, a basket by Lockett and a pair of free throws by Cook, to take a 19-12 lead at the 8:41 mark.
• UC ended a scoreless drought by making four straight baskets, the last of which cut Toledo's lead to two, 23-21, with 4:32 to go in the half.
• Lockett responded with back-to-back buckets, a three-pointer followed by a driving layup, to build the lead back up to seven points, 28-21.
• The Rockets held the Bearcats without a field goal in the final 4:32 of the quarter to take a 29-23 lead heading into halftime.

3^rd Quarter

• UC doubled Toledo's scoring output at the outset of the second half, using an 8-4 run to trim UT's lead to two points, 33-31.
• The Rockets slowly rebuilt their lead, and a three-pointer by Mikonowicz at the 4:10 mark reestablished the lead at seven points, 42-35.
• Cincinnati took advantage of a Toledo cold streak at the end of the quarter, scoring the final six points to take a 45-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

4^th Quarter

• The Rockets quickly re-took the lead after Mikonowicz took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast for a layup on the other end, making it 46-45. A couple minutes later, she went 1-for-2 from the line to put Toledo up 47-45 with 7:45 to play.
• Hayes answered with a basket on UC's next possession, and Braylyn Milton's three-pointer gave the Bearcats a 50-47 lead at the 6:25 mark.
• Toledo remained down until the very end of the quarter. Cook's bucket with 41 seconds left made it a two-point game, and then Wiard drew contact with 13 seconds left which sent her to the line for two free throws. She made both, and Jackson's game-winning shot attempt was off the mark, sending the game to overtime at 58-58.

Overtime

• Cincinnati jumped out to an early lead, fueled by five points by Caitlyn Wilson, and took a 65-61 lead with 3:06 to play.
• Cook scored on back-to-back possessions to tie the score at 65-65, and Lockett's bucket with 1:56 to play tied it again at 67-67 after the Bearcats made two free throws on the prior possession.
• With 1:13 to go in overtime, Wiard converted a three-point play to turn a one-point deficit into a two-point lead.
• Toledo held a 72-71 lead with less than 30 seconds to play, but UC grabbed a rebound off a missed shot from Garcia. Unfazed, Garcia forced a turnover before UC could take the ball up court and drew a foul, which sent her to the line for two free throws.
• Garcia made both freebies to make the score 74-71. The Bearcats had a chance to tie the game, but never got a shot off on their final possession.