TOLEDO (Interstat) — Toledo weathered a late Youngstown State push and defeated the Penguins 64-60 in women’s college basketball Tuesday at John F. Savage Hall. Mia Kalich recorded a double-double for Youngstown State with 10 points and 13 rebounds, but the Penguins could not complete their fourth-quarter comeback. Toledo improved to 1-2, while Youngstown State fell to 2-1 and absorbed its first loss of the season. The game was played before an announced attendance of 4,128. Youngstown State had opened the season with wins over Buffalo and Hiram, while Toledo had dropped games to Michigan State and Louisiana Tech.

Youngstown State opened with purpose. Sarah Baker made a layup 15 seconds into the game, and Natiah Nelson answered for Toledo six seconds later. Jada Leonard made two free throws to put the Penguins ahead 4-2, and Kalich and Paulina Hernandez followed with layups as Youngstown State moved ahead 8-2 with 4:55 left in the first quarter. Toledo answered with a decisive run. Kiera Edmonds made a layup, Evalyse Cole followed with a layup, and Kendall Carruthers tied the game with a layup. Carruthers then hit a 3-pointer at 2:17, Ella Weaver made a driving layup, and Jyah LoVett buried a 3-point jump shot at 1:07 as Toledo took a 16-8 lead. Evelyn McKnight scored late in the quarter to bring Youngstown State within 16-10 after one.

Toledo carried that momentum into the second quarter. Reagan Wilson opened the period with a 3-pointer, Edmonds made a layup, Carruthers added another layup, and LoVett converted a tip-in and a layup to push the Rockets’ lead to 27-10. Youngstown State steadied itself at the free-throw line when Erica King made the second of two free throws, and then found offense through McKnight and Hernandez. McKnight hit a 3-pointer, Hernandez made a layup and a 3-point jump shot, and Danielle Cameron closed the half with a 3-pointer in the final seconds. Toledo led 35-26 at halftime.

The Penguins continued to chip away in the third quarter. Toledo received early third-quarter baskets from Cole at 9:28 and LoVett at 8:18 and 7:29, but Youngstown State answered. McKnight made a 3-pointer at 6:02, Kalich scored on a layup at 4:57 and added two free throws at 4:23, and Hernandez made two free throws at 3:53 and a layup at 3:26 as Youngstown State cut into the deficit. Edmonds made two free throws for Toledo, and Sarah Baker added a free throw for the Penguins. Destiny Robinson made a free throw for the Rockets, and Carruthers made a layup. McKnight made two free throws at 1:38, and Jada Leonard’s driving layup with 3.3 seconds left in the period pulled Youngstown State within 46-42.

The fourth quarter was the most important stretch. McKnight made two free throws to cut Toledo’s lead to 46-44, but Cole answered with a layup at 8:31 and Wilson hit a 3-pointer at 6:15 to restore a seven-point cushion. Hernandez made a layup at 7:09, but Wilson hit another 3-pointer at 4:25 and Cole made a layup at 5:42 to make it 53-46. Youngstown State responded with Erica King’s 3-pointer at 5:22 and later pulled within 57-53 on Hernandez’s layup at 3:23. Wilson then made a jump shot at 2:50, Carruthers made a layup at 2:06, and Natiah Nelson added a jump shot at 1:20 as Toledo kept the Penguins at arm’s length. Kalich made a layup at 2:25 and Hernandez made a layup at 1:47 to keep Youngstown State close. Cameron’s 3-pointer with 58.3 seconds left brought Youngstown State within 63-60, but Wilson made a free throw with 3.4 seconds remaining to seal the result.

Kalich finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes. Cole had 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes. LoVett added 11 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. Hernandez scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in 28 minutes. McKnight had 12 points, three rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. Wilson scored 12 points in 19 minutes. Cameron had six points, four rebounds, one assist and one block in 36 minutes. Edmonds had seven points, five rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes. Carruthers scored 15 points with three rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes, and Weaver had two points, seven rebounds and one assist in 34 minutes.

Youngstown State shot 21 of 56 from the floor, 6 of 10 from three-point range and 12 of 16 from the free-throw line. Toledo shot 27 of 65 overall, 5 of 15 from beyond the arc and 5 of 13 from the line. The Rockets held a 12-3 advantage in offensive rebounds and a 38-30 edge in points in the paint. Toledo had eight assists, six blocks and 13 turnovers, while Youngstown State had six assists, two blocks and 14 turnovers. Youngstown State scored 13 points off turnovers; Toledo scored 10. Youngstown State scored 60 points from 75 possessions for an offensive rating of 80.4. Toledo scored 64 points from 72 possessions for an offensive rating of 88.7.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Youngstown State 65, Toledo 61. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Toledo with a 75.8 percent probability to win. Toledo had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -5.5. The total score of 124 went over the over/under line of 125.5.