Toledo Travels to Akron on Wednesday Looking to Extend Winning Streak

Wednesday, February 15

Akron, OH

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Akron

Senior Janice Monakana is contributing team highs in points (16.9 ppg) and thefts (1.9 spg) in 28.0 minutes over the last eight games.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Travels to Akron on Wednesday Looking to Extend Winning Streak

2/14/2017 9:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Toledo WBB Game Notes vs. Akron (PDF)

AKRON, OH - Toledo will hit the road for the first of two away games this week when it travels to Akron on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Tip-off time is slated for 7:00 p.m. in James A. Rhodes Arena and the Mid-American Conference cross-division match-up will be streamed on ESPN3.

The Rockets are currently in fourth place in the MAC West Division standings, three games behind frontrunners Central Michigan (18-6, 10-2 MAC) and Northern Illinois (17-6, 10-2), while the Zips are tied for fifth in the MAC East Division.

UT has won four of its last five contests, most recently registering an impressive 74-59 victory over arch-rival Bowling Green on Saturday before 4,363 fans in Savage Arena.

Sophomore Mikaela Boyd led the Rockets with 18 points and 11 rebounds to post her third double-double in the last four games and team-high sixth of the year against the Falcons. Also scoring in double figures were senior Janice Monakana with 17 points and junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott had 10. The Midnight Blue & Gold also benefited from eight points by sophomore Kaayla McIntyre to tally its fourth win in a row and seventh in the last eight meetings against BGSU (6-18, 2-10 MAC).

Toledo, which did not trail in the contest, shot an efficient 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field and a stout 76.0 percent (19-of-25) from the free throw line to help it remain within striking distance of CMU and NIU in the division standings.

UT also dominated the glass, 45-34, and finished with a sizable 40-24 advantage in points in the paint. Seven different Rockets pulled down at least three boards in the contest, spearheaded by Boyd's 11 and Monakana's seven.

Toledo was extremely solid defensively and limited BGSU to 32.3 percent (20-of-62) from the floor, including 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from beyond the arc. Bowling Green's top two scorers, Carly Santoro and Sydney Lambert, were restricted to 13 points on 5-of-25 shooting from the field.

Toledo, which is 7-3 away from home, continues to be fueled offensively by the quartet of Monakana, Bravo-Harriott, Boyd and sophomore Kaayla McIntyre, who are tallying 12.7, 12.1, 11.4 and 9.9 ppg, respectively.

The Rockets will battle an Akron team which is in the midst of a four-game losing skid, including Saturday's 72-58 home setback against rival Kent State. First-team All-MAC candidate Hannah Plybon paced the Zips with a game-high 24 points.

UA, which is 3-7 at home, features an offense with three players tallying at least 9.0 points per game, led by Plybon's 17.3 ppg.

Toledo and Akron will square off for the only time during the regular season and the 52nd time overall. The Rockets lead the all-time series, 38-13, but the Zips have won the last six meetings against their cross-division foe.

A season ago, Akron won the regular-season match-up, 81-71, at home (Jan. 20). The teams then met in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament and the Zips secured a 73-71 overtime triumph in Quicken Loans Arena (March 9).

Toledo holds a 15-7 advantage in games played in J.A.R., but has dropped four of its last six contests in Summit County.

Following tomorrow's contest, the Rockets will remain on the road and venture to MAC West Division co-leader Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 18. The opening tip versus the Chippewas is scheduled for Noon in McGuirk Arena and will be televised on the American Sports Network (ASN), as well as streamed on ESPN3.

UT and CMU will compete for the second time this year and the 79th time overall. The Rockets claimed a 74-72 home victory over the Chippewas on Jan. 28. Toledo leads the all-time series, 48-30, and has won the last five meetings against its division foe.

Toledo also maintains a slim 19-16 advantage in games played in Mount Pleasant, and has won four of the last five meetings away from home. A season ago, UT secured an 81-79 overtime road victory in McGuirk Arena (Feb. 20).