YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Toledo women's basketball team came back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter at Eastern Michigan to win 79-73 in overtime on Saturday.

The Rockets (15-4, 6-2 MAC) trailed the Eagles (11-8, 3-5 MAC) by 12 points, 56-44, with 5:48 to play in regulation. With EMU in foul trouble, Toledo knocked down free throws down the stretch to slowly chip away at the deficit until a three-pointer by Sammi Mikonowicz made it a one-point game, 60-59, with 3:08 left. The Rockets did not lead until a Sophia Wiard basket with 1:48 made the score 63-62. A late EMU basket left the score tied at 66-66 at the end of regulation.

The Eagles opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but Mikonowicz and Khera Goss combined for seven straight points to put UT ahead 73-69 with 2:14 to play. The Rockets would not trail for the remainder of the game.

The 12-point deficit was the largest Toledo has overcome to win a game this season. It also marked the second overtime win of the year after the 74-71 win at Cincinnati earlier this season.

"I told the team after the game that not every win will be wrapped up in a pretty box and have a nice bow on top," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "Sometimes you need to be resilient and gritty, and I thought we did that today. Everything didn't go as planned today, but I never saw any of our players hang their head. I just saw them focused on what they could do to make an impact later in the game. That's how you win games. I love this team's competitiveness and togetherness."

Quinesha Lockett led the way for Toledo with 25 points and did most of her damage at the free throw line, knocking down 15-of-17 attempts. Her 15 free throws are a career-high and one-off the single-game school record of 16 free throws, which is held by Kim Knuth (twice) and Kim Sekulski. Lockett also added five rebounds, a team-high five assists, and three steals to help the cause.

Mikonowicz (17 points) and Wiard (15 points) also scored in double figures against EMU and Mikonowicz show well at the free throw line as well, making 10-of-12 shots. Toledo shot 38.2% for the game (21-for-55) and made a season-high 32 free throws, the first time its recorded at least 30 free throws in a game since Jan. 27, 2004 vs. Ball State.

Toledo won the turnover battle, forcing 18 EMU errors while committing 12. The Rockets scored 27 of their points off turnovers, including 10 of 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Eastern Michigan was led by Ce'Nara Skanes, who scored 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Tayra Eke produced a double-double off the bench with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Lachelle Austin contributed 13 points. The Eagles show 48.3% as a team, making 29-of-60 shots.

Toledo visits Central Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 1 before returning home on Saturday, Feb. 4 to play Ohio at 2:00 p.m. To purchase tickets to Toledo women's basketball games, 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

• Both teams traded baskets early, but Eastern Michigan used a quick 6-0 run to take a 14-8 lead with 2:55 to go in the quarter.
• The Eagles continued to make shots and ended the first quarter with a 20-13 lead. They shot 57.1% from the floor (8-for-14) while the Rockets made just 3-of-12 from the floor in the first quarter.

• Lockett's back-to-back layups to open the quarter made it a one-possession game, 20-17.
• Toledo kept it manageable for the early stages of the second quarter, but a 7-0 run by Eastern Michigan quickly built its lead to 10 points, 31-21, with 4:36 left in the half.
• The Rockets managed just one field goal in the final 7:36 of the second quarter, producing most of its points at the free throw line.
• Eastern Michigan took a 35-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

• Toledo cut the deficit to four points, 39-35, at the 6:22 mark of the second quarter.
• Led by Skanes, Eastern Michigan launched an 8-0 run to take a 12-point lead, 47-35, with 4:38 left.
• Jayda Jansen's three-pointer at the 4:20 mark brought UT back within nine, 47-38.
• Toledo held EMU scoreless for the final 3:25 of the quarter and pulled within seven points, 49-42, by the end of the period.

• A 6-0 run by the Eagles put the score at 56-44, with 5:57 to go in regulation. The 12-point deficit was tied for Eastern Michigan's largest of the game.
• Lockett scored five straight points in a span of 30 seconds to put Toledo within six, 57-51.
• After scoring eight straight points off free throws, the Rockets got a huge three from Mikonowicz with 3:08 to play to put themselves within a point, 60—59.
• Toledo took its first lead of the game with 1:48 to play. Wiard drew contact going to the hoop, but still got the bucket.
• The Rockets held the lead until the closing seconds when Skanes' layup tied the score at 66-66, sending the game into overtime.

• Eastern Michigan's Olivia Smith drilled a three-pointer just eight seconds into overtime to put the Eagles back on top.
• Khera Goss answered with her first basket of the game, a clutch three to tie the score at 69-69 with 3:43 left.
• Goss and Mikonowicz tallied back-to-back baskets to give UT a 73-69 lead at the 2:14 mark.
• Lachelle ended EMU's scoring drought with a three-pointer with 1:59 to play to put the Eagles within a point, 73-72.
• Wiard and Lockett both collected clutch steals and made free throws in the final 90 seconds to help seal a 79-73 victory.