Toledo Ventures to Mexico to Participate in Cancun Challenge

Thursday, November 24

Riviera Maya, Mexico

4:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Davidson

Senior Janice Monakana and the Rockets will face Davidson and UCLA for the first time in program history at the Cancun Challenge.

Toledo Ventures to Mexico to Participate in Cancun Challenge

11/21/2016 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WBB Game Notes vs. Davidson/UCLA

CANCUN, MEXICO - Toledo (3-0) will look to remain unbeaten when it travels south of the border to participate in the Cancun Challenge on Thursday-Friday, Nov. 24-25. The Rockets will square off against Atlantic 10 member Davidson (0-4) on Thursday in the first round of the tournament at 4:00 p.m. in the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya Convention Center. UT will then battle nationally ranked Pac-12 foe UCLA (3-1) in the second round on Friday at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The Rockets have begun the season with three-consecutive wins for the first time since 1996-97. UT has now started a year 3-0 on four occasions in school history.

UT has accumulated a 58-49 (.542) all-time ledger in pre-conference tournament action, including an impressive 24-7 (.774) mark under head coach Tricia Cullop.

Last season, the Rockets captured their 12th tourney crown in school history with a pair of victories at the ASU Classic (Dec. 5-6) in Tempe, AZ.

Toledo is coming off an impressive 92-59 victory at Cleveland State on Saturday.

The Rockets shot 43.4 percent (33-of-76) from the field, including a sparkling 40.7 percent (11-of-27) from three-point range, to snap a three-game losing skid against the Vikings on the road. UT's last victory in Cleveland occurred on Dec. 11, 2004 when it escaped town with an 81-67 triumph.

The Midnight Blue & Gold, which did not trail at any point in Saturday's match-up, also dished out 23 assists and committed only 11 turnovers to top the 90-point plateau for the first time since it posted 101 points against Akron on Jan. 14, 2015.

Junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott led a season-high five Rockets in double figures with 17 points. Senior Janice Monakana added 14 points, followed by sophomore Mikaela Boyd with 11 and sophomore Olivia Cunningham and freshman Mariella Santucci chipped in with 10 each.

Boyd also pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds to post her first-collegiate double-double and just missed totaling the second triple-double in school history with a career-best seven dimes.

Through the first three games this season, UT is fueled offensively by the quintet of Boyd, Bravo-Harriott, Santucci, Cunningham and Monakana, who are averaging 12.0, 11.7, 10.0, 9.7 and 9.0 ppg, respectively.

Davidson is winless through its first four contests this year and most recently dropped a 44-40 decision against Radford on Saturday. Mackenzie Latt paced the Wildcats with 10 points, nine caroms and two rejections.

The Wildcats feature an attack with three players averaging at least 8.0 points per game led by Kianna Speight's 11.5 ppg, followed closely by Latt's 9.0 rpg and a squad-best 6.5 rpg.

Toledo and Davidson will meet for the first time. UT is 21-20 (.512) all-time against teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference, including 8-6 (.571) under head coach Tricia Cullop.

Last Tuesday, the Rockets opened their home campaign with a 65-50 triumph against Rhode Island.

UT is slated to play two other A-10 schools this season, Dayton (Dec. 9) and St. Bonaventure (Dec. 11).

Following this weekend's tourney, Toledo will host Horizon League member UIC on Thursday, Dec. 1. The opening tip against the Flames is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN3. A season ago, the Rockets escaped the "Windy City" with a 60-51 road triumph on Dec. 20.