TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (13-9, 8-3 MAC) will hold its eighth-annual 'Rockets For the Cure' day on Saturday, Feb. 13, as the Midnight Blue & Gold entertain Ohio (18-4, 10-1 MAC). The opening tip against the reigning Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament champion Bobcats is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and can be seen on ESPN3, BCSN and TWCS. The MAC cross-division match-up will help benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Northwest Ohio and the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center.

UT encourages everyone in attendance to wear pink in support of cancer research.

The goal of 'Rockets for the Cure' is to provide breast cancer education to the community, provide encouragement to the survivors and their families who are fighting cancer now, celebrate the survivors that have won the fight, remember the ones who were less fortunate, all the while packing Savage Arena with 5,000 or more Rocket Fans in pink to show support for the cause.
 
Groups of 15 or more may purchase tickets at the group rate of $7.00 per ticket prior to game day.  The first 500 group tickets sold will receive a FREE 'Rockets for the Cure' commemorative t-shirt. The group rate and free T-shirts can be redeemed prior to game day and are based on availability.

Fans can take part in a silent auction on the West Concourse from when the doors open until the end of halftime. All proceeds benefit the University of Toledo Dana Cancer Center, NW Ohio Affiliate Susan G. Komen and the University of Toledo Center for Successful Living.

The Rockets will once again wear pink uniforms for the game. Guest emcee Chrys Peterson and the Rockets will host a live auction of the jerseys worn during the contest. All proceeds benefit the University of Toledo Dana Cancer Center and Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio.

For the second straight year, head coach Tricia Cullop has pledged to donate $25.00 for every Toledo free throw made and asks the Toledo community to do the same. All proceeds benefit the University of Toledo Dana Cancer Center and the NW Ohio Affiliate Susan G. Komen.

Last season, Toledo raised $14,893 for breast cancer research, marking the fourth time in the last five years they collected at least $14,000. Four of the uniforms that were auctioned off after the contest went for more than $700, including a high of $1,100 for Inma Zanoguera.

Toledo is coming off a 71-60 home win over Buffalo on Wednesday to stretch its winning streak to four consecutive  games.

Sophomore Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott buried a season-high five triples and finished with a squad-best 19 points to propel UT to its 10th-straight home triumph against the Bulls (11-11, 3-8 MAC). Bravo-Harriott took the game over at the start of the third quarter, knocking down three treys in a span of less than two minutes to give the Midnight Blue & Gold a lead it would not relinquish.

Freshman Kaayla McIntyre added a season-tying best 15 points and six rebounds off the bench, while senior Brenae Harris nearly totaled the second triple-double in school history, totaling 10 points, a contest-high 10 boards and a game-best eight helpers. The Marion, OH native recorded the lone triple-double against Wright State in the first round of the 2015 Postseason WNIT (March 20). 

As a team, the Rockets shot a respectable 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the floor, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from three-point land, and 66.7 percent (18-of-27) from the charity stripe to record their seventh-straight home victory.

UT also finished with a 37-33 edge on the glass and totaled more assists (16) than turnovers (14) for the 11th time in the last 16 games.

The Rockets are fueled offensively by the quartet of Harris, junior Janice Monakana, senior Ana Capotosto and Bravo-Harriott, who are averaging 14.4, 10.5, 10.4 and 10.2 ppg, respectively.

Toledo, which sports a 7-2 record at home this season, will take on a well-rested Ohio team which has won 13 of its last 14 contests. Most recently, the Bobcats claimed a 95-70 victory vs. Northern Illinois last Saturday. Quiera Lampkins and Kiyanna Black led Ohio with 23 and 21 points, respectively. 

The Bobcats are currently leading the MAC in scoring defense (59.1 ppg),  scoring margin (+12.1 ppg), overall field-goal percentage defense (.348%, 453-of-1,300), blocked shots (5.3 bpg) and three-point field goals made (9.7).

Ohio, which is 10-4 away from home this season, features three players scoring at least 9.0 points per game and is led by Black and Lampkins at 17.8 and 14.3 ppg, respectively.

Toledo and Ohio will meet for the only time during the 2016 MAC campaign and the 66th time overall.

The Rockets lead the all-time series, 44-21. A season ago, UT dropped a 65-58 decision in the Convocation Center (Jan. 10) to snap a nine-game winning streak against its MAC cross-division foe. 

Toledo also holds a commanding 27-6 edge in games played in Savage Arena and has won 27-consecutive home contests in the series. UT's last loss at home in the series occurred on Jan. 7, 1987, when it dropped a 78-76 decision.

Two years ago, the Rockets secured a 61-44 home triumph over the Bobcats in the opening round of the MAC Tournament (March 10, 2014).

Following Saturday's contest, the Rockets will travel to arch-rival Bowling Green (8-12, 4-7 MAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The opening tip versus the Falcons is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Stroh Center and can be seen on ESPN3.

UT and BGSU will square off for the second time this year and 75th time overall. The Rockets claimed a 75-61 victory over its cross-division rival in Savage Arena on Jan. 30.

The Falcons holds a 42-32 advantage in the all-time series, but the Rockets have won five of the last six meetings against their arch-rival. 

Bowling Green also maintains a 20-11 (.645) edge in contests played in Wood County, but UT has  won the last three meetings on the road. A season ago, Toledo claimed a 64-48 road triumph in the Stroh Center (Jan. 31).

Dollars Raised for Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Northwest Ohio & Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center
2015 - $14,893     
2014 - $13,582    
2013 - $19,845    
2012 - $18,010
2011 - $14,366
2010 - $11,393