There’s no place like home.
Just ask Ginny Boggess and the University of Toledo women’s basketball team.
The Rockets used every ounce of their homecourt advantage on Wednesday to eke out a 64-59 victory over Miami at Savage Arena.
“It was everything. The sixth man got really loud when we needed it,” Boggess said. “And there’s just a comfort that we have in Savage. We’ve got some young kids out there, and it means a little bit more playing here, playing in front of their families and playing in front of their friends. …It’s a tremendous advantage playing here at home.”
Toledo led by 10 at the end of the first quarter and 18 just before halftime. But instead of a blowout brewing, Miami clawed back, nearly erasing the entire deficit in the third quarter. The RedHawks trailed 36-18 with 2:12 left in the first half and then 48-45 at the end of the third quarter, outscoring Toledo 20-12 in the 10 minutes after halftime.
UT had six turnovers and five field goals in the third quarter, as Miami had a 9-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
“We knew they weren’t going to go away,” Toledo senior Sammi Mikonowicz said.
The RedHawks didn’t fade in the fourth, taking a 51-50 lead, its first since the 8-minute mark of the first quarter. The next time down the court, Destiny Robinson drilled a 3 from the top of the key to put Toledo in front. The score was tied three times, but UT never trailed again.
Nan Garcia made a free throw with 3:54 left to put the Rockets in front 58-57. Neither team scored again until a Kendall Carruthers layup gave Toledo a 60-57 lead with 47 seconds left.
The Rockets closed out the game from the free throw line, shooting 16 of 18 from the charity stripe. UT has only missed eight of its 61 free throw attempts in the past four games.
“That was the game,” Boggess said. “And we had the right people taking them tonight. Kendall Carruthers, I was really excited about her willingness to take the basketball to the rim in big-time moments. We tried to give her room to do it. Our bigs got some clean screens and got her downhill. She’s just tremendous around the basket.”
Miami — which was 15-of-31 shooting in the second half — missed five of its final six field goal attempts. Enjulina Gonzalez had a game-high 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, and Tamar Singer had 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
“We just had to pick it up defensively,” Mikonowicz said. “Their record doesn’t speak to the type of team that they are. We kind of knew that the last couple days watching film. Our defense, I think we’re in a good spot.”
Mikonowicz grabbed her 1,000th career rebound in the first quarter, matching Angela Drake as the only two players in program history with 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points.
Mikonowicz and Carruthers scored a team-high-tying 17 points and the duo was a combined 13 of 14 from the free throw line.
Robinson had 11 points and was a team-high plus-12.
“I don't really feel any pressure,” Carruthers said. “I practice free throws all the time after practice. I was very confident.”
The Rockets exerted their will on the glass, outrebounding Miami 39-22. Entering Wednesday, UT ranked 41st nationally in rebounding margin (6.6). That number only grew with the performance against the RedHawks.
It was another solid night from behind the 3-point line for Toledo, who finished 6 of 16 from long range. In the past four games, UT is shooting 43.8 percent (32 of 73) from deep.
At the halfway point of the Mid-American Conference schedule, UT (14-5, 6-3) is in fourth place, three games behind Ball State and one behind Buffalo and Kent State. The Rockets play at Buffalo on Feb. 5.
“I love this team,” Boggess said. “Somebody asked me the other day about playing for seeding and things like that. You know, I don’t think [the conference championship race] is over. There’s a tough stretch for the people ahead of us. We also have a tough stretch coming up, three on the road. But one game at a time.
“I love this team. I love our toughness. I love our grit.”
First Published January 30, 2025, 2:09 a.m.
