TOLEDO, Ohio (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge and a late-game scoring flurry from Ella Weaver propelled the Toledo Rockets to a 59-53 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes in a Mid-American Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Savage Hall.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, Toledo overcame a sluggish first half by outscoring Kent State 21-13 in the pivotal third period, erasing a halftime deficit and seizing control before a crowd of 3,920. The Rockets improved to 10-8 overall, while Kent State fell to 9-11.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the fourth quarter after Kent State had clawed back to within a single possession. With Toledo leading 48-45 and just over four minutes remaining, the Rockets delivered a decisive 8-0 run to secure the win. The burst was fueled entirely by the tandem of Ella Weaver and Patricia Anumgba. Anumgba connected on a crucial three-pointer off a Weaver assist, and Weaver followed with a personal 5-0 run, sinking another three-pointer and a driving layup to extend the Toledo lead to 56-45 with 1:10 to play, effectively sealing the outcome.

Weaver, a 6-foot guard from Ruckersville, Virginia, led all scorers with 18 points, including three three-pointers, and added a block and a steal in 27 minutes. Her scoring, particularly in the final frame, provided the necessary offensive punch for a Toledo team that shot just 39 percent from the field.

The first half belonged to Kent State, which used a 17-point second quarter to build a 28-20 lead at intermission. The Golden Flashes’ defense harassed Toledo into 19 total turnovers, but the Rockets compensated with a massive 14-3 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to 15 second-chance points.

Anna Campanelli led Kent State with 12 points, while Riley Rismiller added 13 points and a team-high two blocks. Dionna Gray facilitated the offense with four assists and contributed eight points. Mya Babbitt, who played a game-high 38 minutes, also scored eight points for the Golden Flashes.

Toledo’s Kendall Carruthers, a hometown product from Toledo, Ohio, provided vital support with 14 points, three assists and three steals. The Rockets’ defense was equally impactful, matching Kent State’s 11 steals and forcing 17 turnovers, which they converted into 15 points.

Statistically, the game was a battle of attrition. Kent State was more efficient from the floor, shooting 43.2 percent to Toledo’s 39.0 percent, and made 13 of 18 free throws. However, Toledo’s overwhelming work on the offensive glass, resulting in 14 more field goal attempts, and their 5-of-18 shooting from beyond the arc compared to Kent State’s 2-of-10, proved to be the differential.

The win was a reversal of recent form for both teams. Toledo had dropped two of its last three conference games, while Kent State entered having won three of its last four. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Toledo with a 76 percent probability to win.

Both teams return to MAC play on Saturday. Toledo will host Bowling Green, while Kent State welcomes Ball State.