Rockets’ Season Concludes With 65-53 Defeat to Minnesota in WBIT First Round

Thursday, March 20

Toledo, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

24-9,13-5MAC

Minnesota

21-11,8-10Big Ten

Minnesota

Toledo

Sammi Mikonowicz finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in her final game in a Toledo uniform. Mikonowicz and fellow seniors Khera Goss, Nan Garcia, Jessica Cook and Hannah Noveroske finish their careers with 110 wins over the last four seasons.

Photo by: Bree Bee

Rockets’ Season Concludes With 65-53 Defeat to Minnesota in WBIT First Round

3/20/2025 10:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Toledo finishes first season of Ginny Boggess era with 24-9 record

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team's season came to an end with a 65-53 loss to No. 2 seed Minnesota in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament at Savage Arena on Thursday.

The Rockets conclude their season at 24-9 while the Gophers (21-11) move on to face Missouri State in the second round of the tournament on Sunday.

After falling behind by double digits in the first half, the Rockets chipped away and closed to within four in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Gophers pulled away for the victory with a late run.

Quoting Head Coach Ginny Boggess
"Credit to Minnesota, you felt their size and physicality out there and they were going to make it hard for us to score. This team fought just like we've done all year. We never gave up and made tonight a fun basketball game. I told the seniors at the end of the game that they've left their legacy and we'll take it from here to make things even better for this program."

Top Rocket Performers
Khera Goss – 11 PTS, 4-of-8 FG, 3-of-5 3-PT FGs, 4 REB
Sammi Mikonowicz – 8 PTS, 3-of-4 FGs, 10 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL

How It Happened

Tied at 5-5, the Golden Gophers went on a 15-5 run over the final 6:06 of the quarter to take a 20-10 lead after one.
After the Gophers extended the lead to 13, Toledo went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 28-23 and headed into the locker room within 32-25. Goss and Mikonowicz each led with six points in the first half.
Minnesota scored the first six points of the third quarter to extend their lead to 38-25. However, the Rockets slowly clawed their way back, cutting the margin to 45-38 in what finished as an even, 13-13 period.
Down 49-38, Toledo went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Nan Garcia three to get to within 49-45 with 6:39 to play. However, Minnesota responded with an 11-0 run over 3:39 to put the game out of reach.

Game Notes

Toledo made its fourth-consecutive appearance in a national postseason tournament and played its 10th game in that span.
The Rockets out-rebounded the Golden Gophers, 40-33 and held the rebounding edge in 23 of their final 27 games this season.
Mikonowicz grabbed double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season.
Toledo's senior class of Mikonowicz, Goss, Garcia, Jessica Cook and Hannah Noveroske finish their careers with 110 wins together over the last four seasons.
Head Coach Ginny Boggess' 24 wins finished just one away from matching Bill Fennelly (1988-89) and Mark Ehlen (1995-96) for the most by a first-year head coach in program history.