PULLMAN, Wash. – In a game that came down to the final play, the Toledo women’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker to Washington State, 63-61, in quarterfinal action of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament on Thursday night.
Toledo (28-6) led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter but Washington State (21-14) rallied in the final minutes, taking its only lead in the fourth quarter on a basket with 3.0 seconds left. The Rockets had one last shot to tie but Quinesha Lockett’s driving layup bounced off the rim.
“The heart, desire and determination of our team right up to the very end was amazing,” said Toledo coach Tricia Cullop. “I couldn’t ask for any more from them.
“More importantly, it has been a joy to coach these seniors. I love them dearly and I Iove this team. This team gave me everything it had all season long. It’s sad it had to end like this, but I couldn’t be more proud of how they performed here.”
Toledo was led by senior wing Sammi Mikonowicz’s (Rossford) 18 points and five rebounds. Senior center Hannah Noveroske added 18 points and five boards, and Lockett chipped in with 12.
The Rockets shot 27-of-58 (46.6%) from the floor but had a tough time handling WSU’s size as the Cougars outrebounded UT 37-25.
Toledo led at halftime, 34-30, and scored the first six points of the second half to go up 40-30. But the Cougars clawed back to take a one-point lead 49-48 late in the third quarter. The Rockets counter-punched in the fourth quarter and took a 61-57 lead on a Noveroske bucket with 3:27 left. Unfortunately, Toledo did not score again.
In the second round, Toledo rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat St. John’s, 72-71, before 2,521 fans in Savage Arena on Sunday.
After falling behind 49-36 in the third quarter, the Rockets stormed back and took their first lead of the second half, 62-61, on a Quinesha Lockett free throw with 2:22 remaining.
Toledo led by as many as four points down the stretch until the waning moments when the Red Storm had one final possession down 72-69 with 10 seconds remaining.
The Johnnies missed a pair of free throws but got the ball back when Hahhan Noveroske was called for traveling on the rebound of the second miss. St. John’s converted a layup with 1.7 seconds left to cut the lead to one, but Toledo was then able to in-bounds the ball and run out the clock to secure the victory.
“I was really proud of how we persevered, being down at the half and having 10 turnovers,” said Cullop, who secured the 21st post-season win (NCAA/WNIT/WBIT) of her career.
“They were shooting lights out in the first half. We could have easily packed it up and went home. They were so resilient and mentally tough. They just never give up. This group is not afraid to scrap and claw and do whatever it takes to win.”
Mikonowicz led the way for Toledo with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Senior center Hannah Noversoske added 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Lockett finished with 11 points and five assists.
Toledo made 30-of-58 (51.7%) from the field, including 17-of-28 (60.7%) in the second half, and out-rebounded the Red Storm 35-25. The Johnnies shot 29-of-57 (50.9%) from the floor but just 6-of-15 (40.0%) in the fourth quarter. Unique Drake led St. John’s (18-15) with 21 points.
