Toledo Welcomes Madonna University to Savage Arena for Sunday Matinee

Sunday, December 4

Toledo, OH

2:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Madonna

Sophomore Halee Printz and the Rockets will host Madonna University on Sunday in Savage Arena at 2:00 p.m.

Toledo Welcomes Madonna University to Savage Arena for Sunday Matinee

12/2/2016 12:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

TOLEDO, OH – Toledo (5-1) will continue its longest home stretch of the season when it entertains NAIA opponent Madonna University (4-4) on Sunday, Dec. 4. The match-up against the Crusaders is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

In conjunction with Sunday's non-conference game against Madonna, the Rockets will host "Community Day." Tickets will be $7.00 when purchased prior to game day and $11.00 on game day. Fans can also have their photo taken with Santa and the Rocket Line Performance can be seen on the concourse during pre-game festivities.

Six of UT's seven games this month will take place in the friendly confines of Savage Arena.

Toledo has been nearly unbeatable in Savage Arena over the last eight-plus years, compiling a 102-28 (.785) ledger.

The Rocket opened their home stretch with an impressive 79-51 victory over UIC on Thursday before 3,421 fans in Savage Arena.

UT took advantage of a pair of huge runs in both the second and third quarters to secure its sixth-straight win over the Horizon League member Flames (2-3). The Midnight Blue & Gold utilized a 14-0 burst in the second period and a 20-2 rally in the third to turn a close contest into a blowout.

Sophomore Mikaela Boyd paced a balanced Toledo attack with a career-high 16 points, to go along with a collegiate-best eight assists and a game-tying high four steals.

Joining Boyd in double digits were sophomore Olivia Cunningham with a season-high 14 points and senior Janice Monakana had 10.

UT also benefited from nine points by junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and seven from sophomore Kaayla McIntyre in a winning effort. In total, 11 of the 12 Rockets found the scoring column and only two players did not log at least 10 minutes of game action.

As a team, Toledo shot a respectable 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the field and controlled the interior, posting a season-best 48 points in the paint.

The Rockets also did a good job sharing the basketball and dished out a season-tying best 23 assists.

Along with experiencing a solid overall night offensively, UT was stout at the defensive end of the court and held the Flames to 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field. They also forced a season-high 32 miscues and translated them into a season-best 31 points.

UT is fueled offensively by the quartet of Bravo-Harriott, Boyd, freshman Mariella Santucci and Monakana, who are averaging 12.2, 11.8, 9.8 and 9.7 ppg, respectively.

Madonna has split its first eight contests this year and most recently dropped an 80-73 decision against nearby Lourdes University on Wednesday.

The Crusaders feature an attack with three players averaging at least 13.0 points per game led by former Rocket Michele Hayes' 21.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg and squad-best 5.6 apg, followed by Becca Sabol's 14.6 ppg and a team-high 11.3 rpg.

Hayes appeared in 17 contests off the bench for the Midnight Blue & Gold as a freshman during the 2012-13 campaign, averaging 0.8 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.3 steals in 4.3 minutes.

Toledo and Madonna will meet for the first time.

Following Sunday's game, Toledo will play its lone road contest this month when it travels to Atlantic-10 power Dayton on Dec. 9. The opening tip against the Flyers is slated for 11:00 a.m. in UD Arena.

UT and UD will meet for the eighth-consecutive season and 23rd time in the overall series. The Flyers lead the all-time series, 13-9, and have won five of the last six meetings. A season ago, UD claimed an 83-57 road triumph on Dec. 2, 2015.

The Rockets' last win in the series occurred on Nov. 13, 2011 when they registered a 61-51 home victory.