TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team got back in the win column with a huge 83-76 win over Ball State before 4,027 fans at Savage Arena on Wednesday.

The Rockets (11-3, 2-1 MAC) led big after the first quarter, but found themselves trailing the Cardinals (12-4, 2-1 MAC) by two points heading into the locker room at halftime. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor in the second half, but Toledo forced 10 turnovers and made 16-of-19 free throws to pull away down the stretch to claim the victory in a battle of two MAC heavyweights.

"I'm so proud of our players," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "This was a great game between two of the best teams in the MAC who were trading blows all game. Ball State shoots the three so well and they're really tough to guard, but I was really proud of our composure. Every time they threw something at us, we answered. I can't praise our kids enough for their mental toughness, especially bouncing back after what happened to us on the road last weekend."

Early in the third quarter, senior Sophia Wiard became the 32^nd player in program history to join the 1,000 Point Club at Toledo. The Muskegon, Mich. native joins teammate Quinesha Lockett as a 1,000-point scorer.

Lockett and Wiard were outstanding on Wednesday. Lockett led all players with 23 points, knocking down 9-of-11 two-point field goals while tallying a team-high three steals and grabbing five rebounds. In addition to achieving her personal milestone, Wiard scored 12 points and tallied a game-high eight assists while committing zero turnovers.

Juniors Khera Goss and Sammi Mikonowicz both scored 13 points to help the cause. Goss was a terrific 9-of-10 from the free throw line and Mikonowicz led Toledo with seven rebounds. Junior Lonasia Brewer turned in one of her best performances of the season, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds off the bench.

The Rockets shot 50 percent from the floor, making 29-of-58 shots, while Ball State made 30-of-64 shots and 11-of-24 three-point field goals. Toledo held a significant advantage at the charity stripe, making 21-of-24 free throws while the Cardinals were just 5-of-6 from the line.

Ball State saw four players reach double figures in scoring, with Marie Kiefer leading the way with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Ally Becki was close behind with 17 points while knocking down 8-of-11 shots.

Next up for Toledo is a pair of tough road tests, beginning with Saturday's game at Kent State (10-4, 2-1 MAC). The Rockets then head south for the Battle of I-75 presented by Cooper Tires for a matchup with archrival Bowling Green (13-2, 2-1 MAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

• Lockett scored six early points, including a layup at the 4:38 mark to give the Rockets a 15-8 lead. The Omaha, Neb. native finished the quarter with 10 points.
• Senior Jayda Jansen's jumper with 1:46 to go gave the Rockets a 10-point lead, 21-11. Toledo headed into the quarter break with a 23-14 advantage.
• The Rockets held Ball State to just 5-of-15 from the field in the first 10 minutes.

• Ball State used a 14-0 run to take a 33-29 lead with 3:05 left in the quarter.
• The Cardinals took a 39-37 lead into the half, shooting 11-of-21 from the field and making 3-of-5 three-pointers in the second quarter.

• Wiard's jumper at the 8:18 mark officially pushed her over the 1,000 point mark for her career and cut the deficit to one, 44-43.
• Lockett scored five points during a 7-0 run that gave the Rockets a 50-46 lead with 5:56 remaining in the quarter.
• Ball State countered with a 7-2 run to regain the lead, 53-52, with 4:43 remaining.
• Freshman Jessica Cook made a pair of free throws to give the Rockets a 61-57 lead, but Ball State's Thelma Dis Agustsdottir trimmed the lead to two with a layup with one second remaining in the quarter.

• Lockett opened the scoring in the quarter with a layup, but Ball State's Becki quickly countered with a three-pointer on the other end to make it a one-point game, 63-62.
• The Rockets extended their lead via the free throw line. Mikonowicz knocked down all three freebies after being fouled beyond the arc, and moments later Goss made both free throws to make the score 68-62.
• Brewer's jumper capped a 7-0 run and increased the Rockets' lead to 70-62 with 7:12 remaining.
• The Cardinals cut Toledo's lead to five, 72-67, on a three-pointer by Dis Agustsdottir with 6:27 remaining but were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.
• Toledo clinched the win by making 6-of-12 field goals and 10-of-11 free throws in the final 10 minutes to earn the 83-76 victory.