2011 WNIT Champions Announce 2011-12 Women's Basketball Slate
8/31/2011 5:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TOLEDO, OH - The 2011-12 Toledo women's basketball schedule was released on Tuesday, highlighted by home contests against 2011 NCAA Tournament participants Dayton, UW-Green Bay, Marquette and arch-rival Bowling Green. The Rockets' rigorous non-league slate will include teams from the Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic 10, Horizon League and Mountain West to name a few.
Head Coach Tricia Cullop enters her fourth year at the helm of the program and believes the upcoming ledger is full of many tough obstacles for the 2011 WNIT champions.
"With the success we have enjoyed over the past few years and the great attendance numbers our fans have provided, scheduling home games has become extremely difficult," said Cullop, whose team is currently riding a 18-game home win streak. "We greatly appreciate the coaches from Dayton, UW-Green Bay and Marquette agreeing to play us at home. We're thrilled to bring three veteran NCAA Tournament teams to Savage Arena as well as host our MAC rival, Bowling Green. The last time the Falcons visited Savage Arena, over 5,800 people came out to enjoy this fierce rivalry. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that figure is surpassed this year."
The Rockets are coming off a memorable 2010-11 campaign that saw them win a school-record 29 games and become the first Mid-American Conference basketball program to capture a national postseason tournament. The 2010-11 campaign was highlighted by a historic six-game run through the WNIT, capped off by an eight-point triumph over USC in the championship game before a school and conference women's basketball record 7,301 fans.
Toledo also claimed the outright 2010-11 MAC regular-season championship for the first time in a decade with a 14-2 ledger, in addition to successfully defending its MAC West Division title.
Senior first-team All-MAC honoree Naama Shafir (15.3 ppg, 5.1 apg), senior Courtney Ingersoll (4.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and senior Haylie Linn (3.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg) will lead the Rockets in 2011-12, as Cullop will need to replace two-time all-conference performer Melissa Goodall (12.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and three-point specialist Jessica Williams (9.2 ppg, 1.1 spg).
"One of the key strengths of this year's team is the fact that these three players, among others, understand the sacrifice it takes to win and win consistently," said Cullop, who was named the 2010-11 MAC Coach of the Year. "They understand that if they want to have success again this year, they will have to be even more dedicated and put forth even more effort."
After hosting an exhibition game in early November, the Rockets' season will officially tip off on Nov. 13 when they entertain the interstate foe Flyers (21-12 record in 2010-11). Two years ago in Savage Arena, UT overcame a 19-point second-half deficit and claimed a thrilling 68-65 victory against a nationally ranked UD squad.
"Over the past few years, Dayton has enjoyed the NCAA post-season experience we aspire to reach," Cullop said. "This will be a difficult home opener, but one that will help us benchmark our readiness. We have split with them the last two meetings, with last year's game falling in the favor of Dayton. I know our players haven't forgotten how that contest felt, and they will be much more prepared for this rematch."
Following the season opener, Toledo will hit the road for three of its next four contests beginning with a matchup against the Phoenix (32-4) on Nov. 16. This year will mark only the second time in school history the Rockets will play a non-league opponent in a home-and-home series. Back in 2007-08, UT played a pair of non-conference games against Detroit.
"UW-Green Bay has really held the torch for mid-majors in the NCAA Tournament," Cullop said. "Not only have they made the tournament, but they have also enjoyed deep runs. Last season, they finished with a school-best 34 wins, advanced to the "Sweet 16" and claimed the Horizon League title. They are well-coached, extremely skilled and an intelligent team. Since we are both struggling with finding opponents to play us, we decided to play each other twice in the same season. Not only will it be a great test for our program, but it will also be two great RPI games."
The 2010-11 MAC regular-season champions will follow up that game with contents at Big Ten member Indiana (9-20) on Nov. 25 and Arkansas State (18-14) on Nov. 27. Sandwiched in between those four contests, Toledo will host Albany (16-13) on Nov. 22.
"To repeat as MAC regular-season champions, we will have to learn how to win tough games on the road," said Cullop, whose squad welcomes six newcomers in 2011-12. "The Indiana/Arkansas State swing will provide a great test for us. We split with the Hoosiers the past two years, winning last year at home with a great come-from-behind victory and our matchup with the Red Wolves will be the first of a two-year agreement."
UT then returns home for a season-high four-consecutive games in the friendly confines of Savage Arena against Iona (11-20) on Dec. 1, Colorado State (14-16) on Dec. 4, UW-Green Bay on Dec. 8 and Cleveland State (21-12, 2011 WBI participant) on Dec. 10.
"This four-game home stretch is a rarity in a non-conference schedule, but one that will be welcomed with open arms," said Cullop, whose team is 43-4 (.915) on its home court. "We will cover some distance in our non-conference ledger, so this four-game stretch will give us a chance to enjoy the confines of home and the support of our Rocket faithful."
The Rockets venture back to the road for a matchup at UW-Milwaukee (12-18) on Dec. 18 and Big Ten member Northwestern (19-14, 2011 WNIT participant) on Dec. 27, before wrapping up their non-conference slate will be a home date vs. the Golden Eagles (24-9) on Dec. 31.
"We're excited to head closer to the home of Haylie Linn with UW-Milwaukee on the schedule," Cullop said. "When you have a player whose parents have traveled so far to see her play, it's nice to give her friends and family the opportunity to enjoy some closer games. The Panthers also have a sharp shooter, Angela Rodriquez, who was named the Horizon Newcomer of the Year last season. Northwestern has eluded us the past two years and although they graduated their All-American center, Amy Jaeschke, they still return plenty of height. Three of their players are listed as 6-foot-5 or above. Marquette will be a young team with ten out of their eleven players on the roster listed as a freshman or sophomore, but they will be very talented."
Following the brutal non-conference slate, Cullop and the Rockets will begin defense of their league title when they travel to West Division nemesis Western Michigan (9-21) on Jan. 5. UT will then play three of its next four contests at home, but will finish with three of its final five conference contests away Savage Arena, including its regular-season finale against Ball State (9-21) on March 2. Toledo will play two games against each of the five other West Division schools throughout the regular season. They will also face each of the six East Division teams once, with Miami (11-19) on Jan. 25, Akron (14-16) on Feb. 1 and the Falcons (28-5) on Feb. 11 visiting the "Glass City," and the Rockets traveling to Ohio (9-22) on Jan. 22, Buffalo (16-16, 2011 WBI participant) on Jan. 28 and Kent State (20-10, 2011 WNIT participant) on Feb. 4.
"Although a lot of talent graduated last year across the board, I still see the MAC being very tough this season," said Cullop, who has accumulated a 37-11 win-loss MAC ledger in three seasons. "The coaches in the league have been doing a terrific job attracting top talent and there is still a lot of talent left over from last year. Central Michigan will likely have the top-rated recruiting class and will be tough to beat, but I also believe Akron, Miami, Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan will be challenging for a league title. Our goal is to repeat as conference champion, but it will not be an easy road."
The MAC Tournament will begin with first-round games at campus sites on March 3 with the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game on March 7-10 at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.
"Looking back at last season, I really believe playing the tough competition that we were afforded in the Preseason WNIT helped fine tune our play for the MAC season," Cullop said. "When you play talented teams, your deficiencies are magnified. We started out 1-4 last season, but greatly benefitted from what we learned over that stretch. We have done our best to replicate the stiff competition we faced last season and take it up a notch. It is an ambitious schedule, but one I know our players and fans will enjoy. It will also prepare us for what we want most, a chance at an NCAA Tournament berth."
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