NORFOLK, Va. – The Toledo women's basketball team allowed just 28.8% shooting and grabbed 46 rebounds in a 56-52 victory at Old Dominion in the second game of the MAC-SBC Challenge at Chartway Arena on Saturday.
The Rockets (17-5, 8-3 MAC) built up a 12-point lead in the first half before battling in a back-and-forth second half. After several ties and lead changes in the fourth quarter,
Khera Goss' back-to-back baskets in the fourth quarter would give the Rockets the lead for good.
The Rockets won their fifth-straight game while the Monarchs (14-11, 6-6 SBC) lost their fourth in a row.
Quoting Head Coach Ginny Boggess
"It took a full 40 minutes on the road today. Everyone stepped up in pivotal moments and our defense and diligence on the boards continued to carry us. I'm proud of our fight and am looking forward to resting up during our bye week."
Top Rocket Performers
Top Old Dominion Performer
- En'Dya Buford – 14 PTS, 6-of-15 FG, 37:16 MIN
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down 5-4 in the first quarter, Toledo went on a 6-0 run for a 10-5 lead and later a 7-0 spurt to grab a 17-8 advantage, finishing the first quarter up 17-10.
- The Rockets extended that lead to 25-13 on a transition three by Nan Garcia, forcing an Old Dominion timeout at the 5:53 mark of the second quarter.
- The Monarchs went on a 10-3 run to end the half over the final 4:22, cutting the Toledo lead to 30-25 at half's end.
- Garcia twice delivered tie-breaking threes in the third quarter, the latter putting Toledo up 36-33 with 2:36 remaining in the period. However, ODU would rally to tie the game 38-38 at quarter's end.
- Toledo went on an 11-4 run over 4:46 to take a 49-44 lead with 4:14 left to play in regulation.
- After the Monarchs rallied to tie the game, 49-49, Khera Goss hit a mid-range jumper and a three on consecutive possessions to give the Rockets a 54-49 lead with 1:46 to go.
- ODU hit a three to get within two, 54-52, and had a chance to tie after Toledo split a pair of free throws, but a Simaru Fields attempt to tie missed.
Game Notes
- Toledo is now 4-0 in games in the MAC-SBC Challenge and 5-0 overall against the Sun Belt Conference dating back to last season. The Rockets have knocked off James Madison, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Troy and Old Dominion from the Sun Belt in that span.
- Mikonowicz' 14 rebounds mark a new season high and the most rebounds in a game for a Rocket this season.
- Toledo held an opponent under 60 points for the fourth-straight game and for the 10th time this season.
- Old Dominion's 28.8% shooting (19-of-66) was its second-lowest shooting percentage of the season. Only its 25.0% clip against Ball State in the season opener was lower.
- The Rockets out-rebounded the Monarchs, 46-32. In its five-game winning streak, Toledo has averaged a +13.8 rebound margin.
- The game totaled seven ties and five lead changes.
UP NEXT
Toledo returns home to Savage Arena on Saturday, Feb. 15, beginning a stretch of four of its next five games at home. Tip off will be at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+, WCWA 1230 AM and The Varsity Network App. Next Saturday's game will be the program's Pink Game and fans are encouraged to wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness.
