TOLEDO, OHIO--The Toledo women (17-9, 12-3 MAC), tied for the Western Division lead in the Mid-American Conference, escaped with a 56-50 win over the Marshall Thundering Herd (8-18, 4-11 MAC) Saturday afternoon at Savage Arena.

“Tonight, we played championship-caliber defense, and I’m extremely happy with that aspect,” said Marshall coach Royce Chadwick. “We had some chances, but couldn’t finish them. It turned out to be the difference in the game. You’ve got to give Toledo credit, because they made plays an 11-3 (record in MAC prior to win) team should make.”

The Herd kept the Rockets within shouting distance in the first half, entering the locker room at the break trailing only by five, 29-24. MU, who led for the first ten minutes of play, then went scoreless for six minutes, allowing the Rockets to open a ten point lead at 26-16 with just under five minutes to play in the half. Marshall hung around, and after two clutch three-pointers by senior guard Melissa Arnold (Charleston, W. Va.), the Herd closed the Rocket gap to five as time expired. The Herd were led by Ida Dotson’s (Tombstone, Ariz.) eight points and Au’Yana Ferguson’s (Louisville, Ky.) six points and six rebounds at the break.

Marshall opened the second half holding the Rockets to no made field goals until a Courtney Risinger three-pointer four and a half minutes into the period. Even with the Rocket dry spell, the Herd could get no closer than one at 29-28 with 18:45 to go in the game. At the time of Risinger’s three-pointer, Toledo took a 33-28 lead, a lead they would never relinquish. However, Marshall would keep the game close throughout behind great defense and a strong presence on the glass. The Herd forced the Rockets into 25 turnovers, nine over their average, and outrebounded Toledo 30-23, 18-6 on the offensive end.

The Herd were led by Ida Dotson, who scored 18 points. Andrea Fitzgerald (Memphis, Ten.) also added 11 in a great all-around effort for Marshall.

Toledo had one player in double-figures, and that was Tia Davis, who scored 14 points.

The Herd return to the Henderson Center to take on the Akron Zips Tuesday evening on senior night. That game tips at 7 p.m.