YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Toledo women’s basketball team put together a suffocating defensive performance in a 48-35 Mid-American Conference win over Eastern Michigan at the George Gervin GameAbove Center Saturday afternoon.
The 35 points surrendered were the Rockets (9-3, 2-0 MAC) fewest allowed to a conference opponent since a 2012 victory over Ohio.
"Our offense struggled at times today with too many turnovers [18], but I'm proud of the way we played defensively," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "I thought our defense did a good job of stifling them and collecting rebounds. I thought we did a better job of taking care of the basketball in the second half as well.”
Toledo’s defense limited EMU (4-8, 1-1) to 24 percent shooting (12 for 50) from the field and held it to 2 of 16 from 3-point range. The Rockets forced the Eagles into 19 turnovers.
The third quarter was the turning point as EMU had pulled to within 25-21 with 6:14 left. But Toledo answered back with a 13-3 run, capped by Sophia Wiard’s 3-pointer which gave them a 38-24 advantage in the final minute of the period.
Wiard and Hannah Noveroske paced the Rockets with 12 points each. Wiard added six assists, while Emmi Rinat notched eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Toledo returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts Western Michigan for its MAC home opener.
First Published January 6, 2024, 11:12 p.m.
