The University of Toledo took a break out of its Mid-American Conference schedule on Saturday for the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
But this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill nonconference game where the home team hands some patsy a check on the way out of town after a stress-free game.
Louisiana-Monroe rolled in with a 15-8 record, with a narrow loss at Arkansas and a 78-62 win over Miami (Ohio). Daisha Bradford is one of the nation’s leading scorers, and she recorded her third triple-double of the season on Wednesday.
However, this Saturday matinee was a horror show for the visiting Warhawks, as Toledo’s defense used a meatgrinder to decimate ULM in a 72-57 victory.
The game changed early in the third quarter with ULM leading 37-34. The Warhawks were in the midst of an 11-2 run, and a stunned Savage Arena crowd was mostly silent.
It wouldn’t be long until it sounded like a jet engine.
Over the next 8 minutes, 49 seconds, Toledo outscored ULM 24-4 to take a 58-41 lead, its largest of the game, limiting the Warhawks to 0-of-12 shooting and forcing seven turnovers.
During that stretch, the Rockets (18-4) made seven of 12 field-goal attempts. They shot 41.4 percent for the game and made nine 3-pointers
Sammi Mikonowicz, a Rossford graduate, had a game-high-tying 13 points. Quinesha Lockett (six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, one steal) and Sophia Wiard (seven rebounds, four assists) had 12 points each, and Khera Goss (five rebounds, one steal) had 10 points.
UT scored 25 bench points and 23 points off turnovers.
Bradford had 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting, with 12 rebounds. ULM was 20 of 60 from the field and shot 30 percent from 3.
STAT TO KNOW
ULM started the game 4 of 19 shooting, went 10 of 14 in the middle, and then finished 6 of 27 the rest of the game.
QUOTABLE
“We go against the same teams every [week], so it’s nice to have to play against someone new and adjust to what they’re running.” — Mikonowicz on playing ULM in the middle of the conference schedule.
UP NEXT
Toledo has an entire week off before resuming its MAC schedule at rival Bowling Green at 6 p.m. next Saturday.
First Published February 10, 2024, 10:16 p.m.
