MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Led by the play of junior Sammi Mikonowicz (Rossford), the Toledo women’s basketball team (16-4, 7-2 MAC) pounced on Central Michigan (4-17, 2-7 MAC) early in its 74-60 win on Wednesday night.
Mikonowicz recorded her second double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to help lead the Rockets to their fourth straight win. Toledo was up by 12 at halftime and led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter.
With the win, the Rockets remain a game back of Ball State (8-1) and Bowling Green (8-1) in the Mid-American Conference standings after both teams also won on Wednesday night.
“Sammi had a great game, I thought she was all over the boards tonight,” head coach Tricia Cullop said. “She just really attacked the boards tonight and we needed that. One of the biggest keys tonight was limiting their offensive rebounds.
“They lead the league in that category and we didn’t want them to have too many opportunities on the offensive glass. I did think we had too many turnovers tonight and a few too many missed layups, but to go 9-for-10 from the free throw line and shoot 47% from the field means we shot it pretty well. Any time you get a road win it’s a good win.”
Mikonowicz led UT in both points and rebounds and had an efficient shooting night, making 9-of-13 shots. At one point in the opening quarter, Mikonowicz scored six straight points to single handedly put the Rockets ahead, 13-8,
Seniors Quinesha Lockett (15 points) and Sophia Wiard (14 points) both reached double figures in scoring as well. Junior Khera Goss added eight points and four rebounds to help the cause.
Toledo shot 47.6% from the floor (30-for-63) and was 9-of-10 from the free throw line, and also won the rebounding battle by a 36-28 margin.
Central Michigan’s leading scorer was Sydney Harris, who matched Mikonowicz with a 19-point night. Karrington Gordon scored 16 points off the bench and Rochelle Norris led the Chippewas with 12 rebounds and added eight points.
Toledo returns home on Saturday to play Ohio at 2 p.m. at Savage Arena.
