MUNCIE, IN - Toledo (5-6) opens Mid-American Conference play at defending West Division champion Ball State (8-3) on Saturday, Jan. 2. The opening tip versus the Cardinals is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Worthen Arena and can be seen on ESPN3.

UT has been pegged fourth in the MAC West Division, while BSU has been picked to finish second in the division, according to a preseason vote of the league's 12 head coaches.

The Rockets are an impressive 22-12 (.647) all-time in MAC openers, including an 11-8 (.579) ledger when beginning league action away from home.

Last season, the Midnight Blue & Gold claimed a 63-53 home triumph against Miami to snap a three-game losing skid in conference openers. 

UT and BSU have squared off in league openers on four occasions (2005, '06, '07 and '11), with the Rockets winning three of the match-ups.

Toledo is coming off a convincing 74-47 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday to stretch its winning streak to five consecutive  games.

Senior Ana Capotosto paced a balanced UT attack with a game-high 16 points, followed by sophomore Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and sophomore Jada Woody with 13 and 12 points, respectively. 

The Rockets also received nine points from junior Janice Monakana, seven by senior Brenae Harris and six from freshman Sarah St-Fort to coast to a season-high 27-point win.

UT dominated every facet of the non-conference finale against the Golden Lions, finishing with a 40-10 advantage in points in the paint, 22-4 edge in points off turnovers, 22-2 cushion in second-chance points and 14-0 advantage in fast break points. Each of the last three categories were season highs for the Midnight Blue & Gold. 

Toledo also posted a decisive 51-30 edge on the boards, with five players tallying at least five caroms, including a season-high 10 from Harris.  

Overall this season, UT features a balanced offensive attack with Harris, Capotosto, Monakana and Bravo-Harriott contributing 13.2, 12.5, 9.6 and 9.5 ppg, respectively.

Toledo will face a talented BSU squad which has won six of its last seven contests. Most recently, the Cardinals claimed a 79-70 home triumph against Saint Louis on Monday. MAC Player of the Year candidate Nathalie Fontaine led Ball State with 24 points and 15 boards.

BSU, which is a perfect 5-0 at home this season, features three players scoring at least 12.0 ppg and is paced by Fontaine's league-high 23.6 ppg.

The Cardinals are currently leading the MAC in scoring margin (+13.2), free throw percentage (.755, 151-of-200), overall field goal percentage (.446, 295-of-662), rebounding margin (+7.7 rpg) and assists (17.9 apg). (as of Dec. 30). 

UT and BSU will square off for the first of two times this year and 74th time overall. Toledo leads the all-time series, 52-21, but has lost the last three contests to the Cardinals for the first time since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns. 

The Midnight Blue & Gold also holds a 22-13 edge in games played in Muncie, but has dropped seven of the last 10 match-ups in Worthen Arena.

A season ago, the Cardinals swept the regular-season series for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign, claiming a 69-61 road victory (Feb. 7) and a 71-55 home triumph (March 7). 

Following Saturday's contest, the Rockets will host MAC East Division foe Kent State (3-7) on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The opening tip versus the Golden Flashes is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and can be seen on ESPN3.