OXFORD, Ohio – Junior Quinesha Lockett led five players in double figures with 20 points as the University of Toledo women's basketball team cruised to its fourth consecutive win, an 86-63 triumph over Miami at Millett Hall on Wednesday.

Toledo (18-4, 12-1 MAC) maintained its two-game cushion over Buffalo (16-7, 10-3 MAC) for first place in the Mid-American Conference following the Bulls' win over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. 
 
The Rockets' 86 points on Wednesday matched their season high, which they also achieved in a win earlier this season over St. Francis (Pa.). Despite some back-and-forth in the first quarter, Toledo held control of Wednesday's game for nearly all 40 minutes. Miami (7-14, 3-9 MAC) led late in the first quarter, but the Rockets quickly surged ahead and did not look back, going on a 29-7 run to turn their small deficit into a double-digit lead.
 
"This was a very physical game, and I think we did a good job of keeping our composure," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "In the first half we did an excellent job taking care of the ball, and I was proud of our effort on the offensive glass tonight. We shot it really well from the free throw line, and for the most part we shot well from the floor as well. It was nice to see five players score in double figures. Our players are so unselfish and I thought tonight they did a good job of finding the best shot."
 
Lockett had her usual outstanding performance, garnering her 11^th 20-point performance of the season. Sophomore Sammi Mikonowicz added 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and junior Sophia Wiard scored 13 points. Freshman Jessica Cook added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds while junior Hannah Noveroske contributed 12 points.
 
Toledo and Miami had similar shooting nights, with the Rockets making 28-of-68 field goals (41.2 percent) and the RedHawks making 24-of-61 shots from the field (39.3 percent). UT was able to grow its lead thanks to deft free throw shooting, making a season-high 24-of-28 shots from the charity stripe.
 
Miami's leading scorer Peyton Scott scored a game-high 25 points, making 9-of-12 free throws. Teammate Ivy Wolf scored 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
 
Next up for Toledo is a matchup with arch-rival Bowling Green on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Savage Arena.
 
1^st Quarter

• Miami took an early 6-4 lead, but three straight free throws from the Rockets put them up 7-6 near the midway point of the quarter.
• Edyn Battle knocked down a three-pointer to give Miami an 11-10 advantage, which was followed by six straight Toledo points to make the score 16-11 with 1:12 left in the first quarter.
• Battle made another three, but Lockett answered back with a trey of her own to keep UT's lead at five. Senior Jayda Jansen made both of her free throws in the final seconds to put the score at 21-14.

 
2^nd Quarter

• Mikonowicz opened the scoring with five straight points to give UT a 26-14 lead early in the second quarter.
• That proved to be the start of an offensive outburst for the Rockets, who exploded for an 18-4 scoring run to take a commanding 39-18 lead.
• The RedHawks were able to hang around for the final 2:34 of the first half and didn't let their deficit get any larger, but the Rockets still went into halftime with a 21-point lead, 45-24.
• Toledo did an exceptional job taking care of the ball in the first half, committing just three turnovers.

 
3^rd Quarter

• Toledo scored 10 of the first 15 points of the third quarter to take a 55-29 lead, its largest of the night.
• Miami made a dent into the Rockets' lead with a 9-3 run in the middle of the quarter, but UT still led 5838 with 3:14 to go in the quarter.
• Toledo managed just one field goal in the final three minutes of the period, but made all six of its free throw attempts to bring the score to 66-45 heading into the fourth quarter.

 
4^th Quarter

• Mikonowicz drained a three to open the third quarter, then Miami scored three straight baskets to bring the score to 69-61 in favor of the Midnight Blue and Gold.
• Jansen's trey with 5:10 to play pushed UT's lead to 77-54.
• Senior Mariah Copeland put the cherry on top of Wednesday's win with a three-pointer in the final minute to bring about the final score of 86-63.