CLEVELAND, OH – Toledo's 2016-17 women's basketball schedule was finalized on Tuesday by the Mid-American Conference Office. Head Coach Tricia Cullop and the Rockets will engage in 18 league games for the fourth-straight year. 

UT will play two contests against each of the five other MAC West Division schools as well as reigning MAC Tournament champion Buffalo (20-14, 8-10 MAC, Feb. 1) and two-time defending MAC regular-season champion Ohio (26-7, 16-2 MAC, Jan. 18) from the East Division throughout the regular season. 

"We were given a difficult schedule with our cross-over games, but we look forward to the challenge," said Cullop, a three-time MAC Coach of the Year.

Toledo will also face the remaining East Division teams once, with Miami (9-21, 3-15 MAC, Jan. 7) and arch-rival Bowling Green (10-18, 6-12 MAC, Feb. 11) visiting the "Glass City" and the Rockets traveling to Kent State (6-23, 3-15 MAC, Jan. 21) and 2016 Postseason WNIT participant Akron (19-14, 11-7 MAC, Feb. 15).

The Midnight Blue & Gold will open league play against division rival Ball State (22-10, 13-5 MAC) on Dec. 31 at home. 

UT will play six of its first nine conference games at the friendly confines of Savage Arena, before wrapping up conference action with six of its final nine match-ups on the road.

"The conference gets better and better each year and proof of that was the parity of last year's teams," Cullop said. "There were numerous league games decided by single digits. I expect it to be another exciting season of MAC basketball, despite the graduation of some key players." 

A year ago, Toledo finished 12-6 in league action and placed fourth in the overall standings, including third in the West Division. 

Senior honorable mention All-MAC honoree Janice Monakana (11.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg), junior honorable mention All-MAC selection Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott (11.0 ppg, 3.1 apg) and senior Sophie Reecher (4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) will lead the Rockets in 2016-17, as Cullop will need to replace 2015-16 first-team all-conference performer Brenae Harris (14.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.2 apg) and three-point specialist Ana Capotosto (9.3 ppg, 4.3 spg). As far as numbers go, the Rockets welcome back 63.9 percent of their scoring, 71.1 percent of their rebounding, 51.5 percent of their assists and 73.3 percent of their steals for this season.

"I'm excited about the depth and talent we have on this year's team," said Cullop. "We return a great nucleus from last year, transfer Olivia Cunningham becomes eligible to play, and we've added four talented newcomers to the roster. As we continue to improve, this could be a very exciting year."