KENT, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team made a furious comeback bid in the second half, but the effort fell short as the Rockets were defeated by Kent State, 69-62 in the final game of the regular season at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday.
 
After Kent State took a 45-26 lead heading into halftime, the Rockets (22-7, 13-5 MAC) stormed back in the second half to get as close as seven in the third. After the Golden Flashes (20-11, 12-6 MAC) went up by 16 in the fourth quarter, Toledo rallied again to cut the deficit to  three, but late foul shooting put the game away for KSU.
 
The Rockets finished the regular season with wins in 10 of their last 12 games and will be the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament. Kent State secured a No. 4 seed with the victory.
 
Quoting Head Coach Ginny Boggess
"I have to have us more ready to come into this environment, and have our young kids giving us the contributions off the bench they've given us all year. Kent State came with that punch in the first quarter and had us on our heels on both ends of the floor, so I have to have us more ready to avoid a sluggish start."
 
Top Rocket Performers

• Nan Garcia – 14 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 6-of-15 FGs
  • Second career double-double (Nov. 26, 2021 vs. Seton Hall)
• Khera Goss – 13 PTS – 5-of-8 FGs, 3 REB
  • All points came in second half
• Sammi Mikonowicz – 11 PTS, 5-of-7 FGs, 6 REBs, 2 AST

How It Happened

• Kent State scored 12 of the final 16 points in the first quarter to open up a 26-17 lead at quarter's end. Sammi Mikonowicz finished with seven points and four rebounds in the period.
• The Golden Flashes opened up a 35-23 lead by the second-quarter media timeout thanks to three triples. Another 10-0 run extended things to 45-26 at the break.
• Toledo went on a 12-0 run to open the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 45-38 at the 4:42 mark. The two teams traded baskets from there, with Kent State holding a 51-43 lead at quarter's end.
• Kent State went on a 10-2 run to start the fourth, extending its advantage to 61-45 at the 6:55 mark.
• Toledo then stormed back with a 12-0 run over 3:11 to cut the deficit to 63-59 with 2:41 left. However, a pair of late misses and a jump ball put the Rockets in a fouling situation, where KSU knocked down its last six free throws.

Game Notes

• The Rockets shot 50.0% (25-of-50) from the field. Toledo has shot 50.0% or better nine times this season.
• The Rockets won the rebound battle, 33-22, but Kent State took the turnover battle, 19-11 and Toledo was called for 22 fouls compared to 10 for KSU.
• Garcia reached double figures for the 10^th time this season and was one rebound away from matching a season high of 11 at Navy on Nov. 30.

Up Next
Toledo is the No. 2 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and will begin its postseason run on Wednesday, March 12 against No. 7 seed Central Michigan in the day's third game at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Toledo and Central Michigan will be the third of the four quarterfinal games on Wednesday, at a time TBA.