AKRON — The University of Toledo women’s basketball team rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to defeat Akron 63-59 in a first-round Mid-American Conference tournament game at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The ninth-seeded Rockets (13-17) outscored the No. 8 seed Zips 19-14 in the third quarter and 27-22 in the final 10 minutes to claim a spot in Wednesday’s quarterfinals in Cleveland. UT will face top-seeded Central Michigan at noon at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The crucial stretch began with the score tied at 42 with 7:25 to go in regulation. Toledo went on a 14-3 run in the span of a little more than six minutes, going up 56-45 with 1:03 to go.
Tanaya Beacham scored a pair of baskets to begin the run, with Nakiah Black’s 3-pointer giving UT a 49-42 lead with 4:24 to go. Black added another 3-pointer at the 2:58 mark, putting the Rockets up 54-45.
Haliegh Reinoehl’s 3-pointer for Akron (15-15) with 23 seconds to go made it a four-point game, but the Zips came no closer.
Black led Toledo with 17 points. Beacham had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Sara Rokkanen 12 points, and Mariella Santucci 10 points.
Reinoehl had 21 points to pace Akron.
First Published March 10, 2020, 2:11 a.m.
