Central Michigan University Athletics
Darrington Tallies 12 in Fourth Quarter, Chippewas Rally Past Toledo
2/25/2026 10:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
15-3 fourth-quarter run, Toledo held without a field goal for over seven minutes; Darrington posts her sixth 20-pointer of the season, Anderson her second double-double
TOLEDO, Ohio — Central Michigan Women's Basketball erased a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Toledo, 68-64, in front of an engaged crowd of 3,974 inside Savage Arena Wednesday night.
"Proud of our composure and poise down the stretch in front of that tough, loud environment," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said. "It's good to see them finish that game the way they did in front of 4,000 fans."
The Chippewas (11-5 in the MAC) solidified their footing as the fourth seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament; the sixth-place Rockets (8-7 MAC) slip into a three-team hornets' nest with Kent State (7-8 MAC) and Bowling Green (8-8 MAC)—CMU's last two opponents of the regular season in order.
Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass) posted 12 of her game high 20 points in the final frame as the Chippewas managed a 13-point swing from 55-48 UT at the start of the quarter to 67-61 CMU with 17 seconds left.
Darrington's second-half performance was logged despite carrying three-plus fouls for the final 16 minutes, with her fourth tacked on with over two minutes left.
"Ana did a great job having short-term memory and not letting foul trouble take her out of the game. She was huge for us in the fourth quarter."
Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / East) netted her second double-double of the season with 12 points, 14 rebounds as she paced CMU with six of its 13 assists.
"When she plays like that, good things happen for us. She lays it all out there on the floor, on top of guarding the team's best player every night."
Anderson's efforts, combined with Darrington's seven boards, led the Chippewas to a 40-25 advantage on the glass.
She added two steals to her line as well.
Central Michigan appeared to gain the upper hand with an 11-0 run in the second quarter, nine points combined from Anderson and Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) on the run. Morson finished with 17.
The Chippewas led, 36-30, at the break. Toledo answered with a 15-2 run in the third quarter, aided by five of CMU's 20 turnovers for the game.
The message going into the fourth quarter was clear.
"We told them we needed to get multiple stops in a row and cannot trade baskets with them. Getting stops helps our offense so we can push the ball in transition."
Central Michigan's defense held Toledo without a field goal (nine attempts) for over seven straight minutes in the fourth quarter as it mounted a 15-3 run to finish. Darrington put the Chippewas up six in the final seconds with a clean pair from the free throw line to cap the run.
The Chippewas ended a drought against a MAC opponent for the third time this season. Wednesday's win was the first over the Rockets since Jan. 27, 2021, also at Savage Arena—CMU had not beaten Bowling Green (Jan. 3), Kent State (Jan. 7) or Toledo since the 2020-21 campaign.
Those three wins have been dedicated to the program's longest-tenured member, Taylor Anderson, as all three were her first against the respective conference foes.
"We wanted to get that win for Taylor, so it was extra special to win it for her."
"Proud of our composure and poise down the stretch in front of that tough, loud environment," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said. "It's good to see them finish that game the way they did in front of 4,000 fans."
The Chippewas (11-5 in the MAC) solidified their footing as the fourth seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament; the sixth-place Rockets (8-7 MAC) slip into a three-team hornets' nest with Kent State (7-8 MAC) and Bowling Green (8-8 MAC)—CMU's last two opponents of the regular season in order.
Ayanna-Sarai Darrington (Lexington, Ky. / Frederick Douglass) posted 12 of her game high 20 points in the final frame as the Chippewas managed a 13-point swing from 55-48 UT at the start of the quarter to 67-61 CMU with 17 seconds left.
Darrington's second-half performance was logged despite carrying three-plus fouls for the final 16 minutes, with her fourth tacked on with over two minutes left.
"Ana did a great job having short-term memory and not letting foul trouble take her out of the game. She was huge for us in the fourth quarter."
Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / East) netted her second double-double of the season with 12 points, 14 rebounds as she paced CMU with six of its 13 assists.
"When she plays like that, good things happen for us. She lays it all out there on the floor, on top of guarding the team's best player every night."
Anderson's efforts, combined with Darrington's seven boards, led the Chippewas to a 40-25 advantage on the glass.
She added two steals to her line as well.
Central Michigan appeared to gain the upper hand with an 11-0 run in the second quarter, nine points combined from Anderson and Madi Morson (Canton, Mich. / Salem) on the run. Morson finished with 17.
The Chippewas led, 36-30, at the break. Toledo answered with a 15-2 run in the third quarter, aided by five of CMU's 20 turnovers for the game.
The message going into the fourth quarter was clear.
"We told them we needed to get multiple stops in a row and cannot trade baskets with them. Getting stops helps our offense so we can push the ball in transition."
Central Michigan's defense held Toledo without a field goal (nine attempts) for over seven straight minutes in the fourth quarter as it mounted a 15-3 run to finish. Darrington put the Chippewas up six in the final seconds with a clean pair from the free throw line to cap the run.
The Chippewas ended a drought against a MAC opponent for the third time this season. Wednesday's win was the first over the Rockets since Jan. 27, 2021, also at Savage Arena—CMU had not beaten Bowling Green (Jan. 3), Kent State (Jan. 7) or Toledo since the 2020-21 campaign.
Those three wins have been dedicated to the program's longest-tenured member, Taylor Anderson, as all three were her first against the respective conference foes.
"We wanted to get that win for Taylor, so it was extra special to win it for her."
Players Mentioned
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