Sammi Mikonowicz and Nan Garcia combined for 34 points and keyed a furious second-half rally as the No. 2 seed Toledo women’s basketball team defeated No. 7 seed Central Michigan, 76-58, in MAC Tournament Quarterfinal action at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Wednesday.
Trailing by 10 points midway through the third quarter, Toledo (23-7) went on a 24-6 splurge to take a 56-48 lead headed into the final 10 minutes. Mikonowicz hit the go-ahead bucket on a driving layup and Garcia hit back-to-back triples at the end of the run, staggering the Chippewas (14-17) and igniting the Rocket faithful in attendance. The Rockets then delivered the knockout blow by scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter and never looking back.
Nan Garcia (1) and Sammi Mikonowicz (33) combined for 34 points in Toledo’s 76-58 win over Central Michigan on Wednesday.
After shooting just 12-of-37 (32.4%) from the floor in the first half, the Rockets hit a sizzling 14-of-25 (56.0%) in the final 20 minutes. Toledo was even better from long range, hitting 13-of-23 (56.5%) from behind the arc, including 8-of-12 (66.7%) in the decisive second half. The 56.5% was a season-best from downtown.
Mikonowicz finished with 18 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Garcia added 16 points and six caroms.
Toledo will face Buffalo on Friday at approximately 12:30 p.m., following the Ball State-Kent State game which begins at 10 a.m.
