Toledo women’s basketball (6) is heading back to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship game after upsetting the reigning champion Ball State (2)- in a 69-65 final, in part due to the efforts of the Rockets’ guard Patricia Anumgba.
Anumgba finished with 29 points, shooting 11/22 from the field, shooting 3/6 from three, and grabbing nine rebounds. The win over Ball State avenges the Rockets’ championship loss vs the Cardinals in the 24-25 MAC tournament.
“Man, she was really good today,” said Ball State head coach Brady Sallee. “She made some big-time buckets for them.”
Ball State and Toledo were involved in a close contest all the way through, with Ball State fighting to regain the lead through much of the second half, getting it to just a one-point Toledo lead, 61-60, before a left-handed layup by Anumgba spoiled those plans.
“I felt like I had a step on her, and I think I’m great at changing direction, and they’d been cutting off my right a little bit,” said Anumbga. “I had to use my left hand, god gave it to me, so I used it.”
The Rockets relied heavily on Anumgba’s game vs Ball State, sticking to the game plan they wanted to execute before the game.
“I can tell her the truth, and the truth is if you shoot nine shots today, we’re going to lose,” said Toledo head coach Ginny Boggess. “We knew that we needed the ball in her hands, we needed her to be willing and able to work.”
The 29-point performance helps elevate the Rockets to their second straight MAC championship appearance, as Anumgba, she only had one thing to say about the Rockets advancing to face Miami OH (1).
“Job’s not finished.”
