No. 7 Toledo Set to Tangle with No. 2 Eastern Michigan in MAC Quarterfinal Action on Wednesday in Gund Arena
2/20/1982 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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CLEVELAND, OH - The No. 7 seed University of Toledo women's basketball team (13-15) will battle No. 2 seed Eastern Michigan (19-7) in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday, Mar. 10 at Gund Arena. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
"Eastern Michigan is a talented team," Toledo Head Coach Mark Ehlen. "In their starting lineup, they have no weaknesses. They are strong inside, have good scoring on both wings and their point guard sets everything up for them."
Toledo advanced to the quarterfinals with a 68-65 victory over No. 10 seed Ohio on Saturday.
Freshman Danielle Bishop paced four Rockets in double figures with 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. The Laingsburg, MI native hit 6-of-9 field goal attempts, including 3-of-5 three-pointers.
Bishop has stepped up her performance over the last four games. She is averaging 17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game, while shooting 50.0 percent (27-of-54) from the floor and 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from beyond the arc.
"You're never quite sure when the light is going to turn on, especially for freshman," Ehlen said. "Danielle has definitely flipped the switch and become a different player in our last four games. She has been the real bright spot for us down the stretch and that has been good to see."
Senior Kelly Walker (15 pts.), junior Karin Hoogendam (14 pts.) and senior Julie Hillis (13 pts.) joined Bishop in double figures, while senior Mary Blessing added game-high six assists and two steals. Walker also became the 18th player in school history to tally 1,000 career points in Saturday's first-round victory. With 3:55 remaining in the first half, she hit a three-pointer to join the elite company.
Toledo shot 48.9 percent (22-of-45) from the field, compared to 47.4 percent (27-of-57) for Ohio. The Rockets held a huge advantage at the charity stripe converting 16-of-24 free throws, while the Bobcats finished 4-of-12.
Walker, a 2003-04 honorable All-MAC selection, is leading the Rockets' offense averaging 12.0 points per game and has scored 20 or more points on seven occasions this season. The Sterling, MI native is fifth in the MAC in three-point field goals made (2.11) and 16th in scoring.
The two teams will be meeting for the third time in the MAC Tournament. UT and EMU split their first two match-ups. The Eagles won 57-40 on Feb. 20, 1982 in the quarterfinals in Muncie, IN and the Rockets won 86-74 on March 4, 1997 in Savage Hall.
Eastern Michigan enters Wednesday's showdown on a definite high, ending the regular season winning nine its last 10 contests, including an 89-68 victory over arch-rival Central Michigan on Mar. 2. Nikki Knapp poured in a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds, while Marion Crandall and Ryan Coleman added 17 points apiece. With the win, the Eagles established a school record for victories in a season and helped them claim the West Division crown outright and earn a first-round bye in the conference tourney.
Coleman, a first-team All-MAC selection, ranks fifth in the MAC in scoring (12.9 ppg), 10th in steals (1.96 spg), 11th in assists (3.08 apg) and 18th in rebounding (6.4 rpg). Second-team All-MAC honoree Knapp is close behind tallying 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
The Eagles rank first in the MAC in field goal percentage (44.0%), three-point field goal percentage (38.3%), scoring defense (60.3 ppg), scoring margin (+14.2), assists (16.54 apg) and three-point field goals made (7.58).
Toledo leads the all-time series with Eastern Michigan, 35-16. UT split its two meetings with EMU during the regular season. The Rockets posted a 63-55 win in Savage Hall on Jan. 13, before the Eagles rebounded for a 76-61 victory in Ypsilanti on Feb. 11.
Hoogendam (13.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and sophomore Leah Gonnella (11.0 ppg) were the only Rockets scoring in double figures against EMU. The Eagles were led by the trio of Sarah VanMetre (16.0 ppg), Coleman (14.0 ppg) and Knapp (12.0 ppg). Toledo struggled shooting the ball from the field, converting 35.0 percent (41-of-117) in the two games, while EMU shot 42.0 percent (53-of-125). The Rockets also shot 27.7 percent (13-of-47), while the Eagles drained only 18.8 percent (6-of-32) of their treys.
Should UT make it to the semifinals, it would face the winner of the No. 3 Kent State vs. No. 6 Marshall on Friday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m.
