Toledo Pulls Away from NIU in 72-52 Victory

Wednesday, January 24

Toledo, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

13-4,6-1MAC

Northern Illinois

9-9,3-4MAC

NIU

Toledo

Quinesha Lockett tallied a double-double vs. NIU on Wednesday, scoring 13 points while grabbing 12 rebounds.

Photo by: Haley Boehm

1/24/2024 10:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Quinesha Lockett records third double-double of the season in the win

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team got back in the win column on Wednesday night with a 72-52 victory vs. Northern Illinois at Savage Arena.

The Rockets (13-4, 6-1 MAC) led for much of the game, but couldn't put the Huskies (9-9, 3-4 MAC) away in the first three periods. UT's double-digit lead dwindled to six by the end of the third quarter, but a strong fourth quarter put the game away.

Toledo outscored NIU 26-12 in the final period and won the rebounding battle to the tune of 16-6 to turn a close game into a 20-point decision rather quickly. The Rockets led by just four, 48-44, with 9:08 to go in the game and increased the lead to 15 points, 63-48, over the next five minutes.

"This wasn't the prettiest game we've ever played, but I'm proud of our players for fighting and finding a way to win," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "You have to find different ways to win when shots aren't falling, and when we did miss we did a good job on the boards. Twenty-one offensive rebounds is exceptional. Getting to the free throw line and getting those offensive rebounds were big reasons why we won."

Toledo made 29 trips to the free throw line after attempting just seven free throws in its last game, and its 55 rebounds constitute a season-high total.

Individually, the Rockets' dynamic backcourt duo of Quinesha Lockett and Sophia Wiard led the way once again. Lockett recorded her third double-double of the year, scoring 13 points while grabbing 12 rebounds, and Wiard scored a game-high 21 points. Wiard was 6-for-6 from the free throw line and 5-of-8 from three-point range; she is now shooting 93.8% (30-for-32) from the line and 66.7% (22-for-33) from beyond the arc in MAC play.

Lockett and Wiard both made moves in the record book as well. Lockett moved past Mimi Olson (1993-97) and into second place all-time in career scoring, bringing her career total to 2,150 points. Wiard, who appeared in her school record-setting 140^th game on Wednesday, surpassed Linda Janicki (1980-84) to move into the Top 10 all-time in Toledo history in career scoring.

Jessica Cook joined her teammates in double figures, scoring 11 points while collecting eight rebounds off the bench. Sammi Mikonowicz tied her season-high with 11 rebounds and moved into ninth place all-time in rebounds in school history.

Toledo won the battle of the boards, 55-41, and tallied 21 offensive rebounds to NIU's six. Twenty-three of UT's points were second chance points.

Northern Illinois had two players reach double figures in scoring in Jayden Marable (12 points) and Grace Hunter (10 points).

Toledo's next game is this Saturday, Jan. 27 at home vs. Buffalo, which will also be the "Justice for Sierah" game. The Rockets are hosting this promotion in conjunction with the Justice for Sierah Foundation, which aims to protect communities by implementing the Ohio violent offender database, known as Sierah's Law, in all 50 states, as well as empowering youth through the establishment of self-awareness and self-defense in school curricula and communities through the Sierah Strong Program. Learn more about this foundation at www.justiceforsierah.org. The custom purple "Justice for Sierah" jerseys will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going toward the foundation. The auction is live now and closes on January 29. Access the online auction at utrockets.com/JFS.

To purchase Toledo Women's Basketball 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

Quinesha Lockett opened the game with a layup, but NIU held Toledo without a field goal for the next 4:15 and took a 7-3 lead in the process.
The Huskies led for much of the first quarter, and a jumper from Jayden Marable gave them a 13-10 lead with 2:13 to go.
Toledo got back on track and ended the first quarter with eight straight points to take an 18-13 lead at the break.

2^nd Quarter

The Rockets' scoring run extended into the second quarter with six straight points. Nan Garcia's jumper at the 7:38 mark gave her team a 24-13 advantage.
Yaniah Curry drove to the hoop for two at the 7:06 mark to keep the lead at 11 points, but that would be Toledo's last field goal until the closing seconds of the half.
Northern Illinois was able to pull within two, 28-26, but the Rockets kept their opponents off the scoreboard for the final 3:03 of the quarter to maintain their lead.
Sophia Wiard drilled a three-pointer with 28 seconds to go to put the score at 34-26, giving UT an eight-point lead heading into the locker room.

3^rd Quarter

Khera Goss' three-pointer early in the third period pushed the lead to 39-26.
Baskets by Emmi Rinat and Hannah Noveroske in the middle of the third quarter helped keep the lead in double figures.
NIU ended the third quarter on a 10-3 run to cut Toledo's lead to 46-40.

4^th Quarter

NIU's Brooke Stonebraker knocked down a shot to make it a four-point game, 48-44, with 9:08 left.
For the next 5:26 of game time, Toledo held the Huskies to just one field goal and was able to grow its lead from four points to 17 points, 63-46.
Wiard's back-to-back threes helped spark the Rockets' surge.
Cook scored seven of her 11 points in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the game to help put the Huskies out of reach.