The University of Toledo
03/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/29/2024 07:07
Rockets Face Washington State Tonight in Third-Round WBIT Battle
Rockets Face Washington State Tonight in Third-Round WBIT Battle
The Toledo women's basketball team travels to Washington State on Thursday, March 28, in quarterfinal action of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). Tip time is 9 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Toledo (28-5), a No. 2 seed, advanced by defeating Cleveland State, 76-68, in the first round on March 21 and St. John's, 72-71, in the second round on March 24, with both games played in Savage Arena.
Player of the Year Sophia Wiard and the Rockets travel to No. 1 seed Washington State in the WBIT Quarterfinals on Thursday.
No. 1 seed Washington State (20-14) defeated No. 8 seed Lamar last Thursday, 66-46, and No. 4 seed Santa Clara on Sunday, 73-47, at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. The Cougars were 7-11 in PAC-12 play this season and were knocked out of the PAC-12 Tournament in the first round by No. 8 seed California, 65-44.
The winner of the Toledo-Washington State game will play the winner of the Illinois-Tulsa contest in the semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday, April 1. The championship game will be played on Wednesday, April 3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
In its win over St. John's on Sunday, Toledo rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat the Red Storm before 2,521 fans in Savage Arena.
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. 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.
Senior forward Sammi Mikonowicz led the way for the Midnight Blue and Gold 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.
Lockett, the 2022-23 MAC Player of the Year, leads Toledo with 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Backcourt mate Sophia Wiard, this year's MAC Player of the Year, averages 14.4 points and 4.7 assists.