Toledo Travels to Streaking KSU on Saturday in First Game of Doubleheader

Saturday, January 21

Kent, OH

4:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Kent State

Freshman Mariella Santucci and the Rockets have won the last eight meetings against KSU.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Travels to Streaking KSU on Saturday in First Game of Doubleheader

1/20/2017 11:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Toledo WBB Game Notes vs. Kent State

KENT, OH - Toledo (12-5, 3-3 MAC) will look to get back on the winning track on Saturday, Jan. 21 when it battles Mid-American Conference East Division foe Kent State (9-9, 3-3 MAC). Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m. in the M.A.C. Center. Tomorrow's MAC cross-division match-up is the first of a doubleheader, as the Rocket men's team will follow with a contest against KSU at 7:00 p.m.

UT has struggled its last two games, dropping contests to Northern Illinois, 77-73, and most recently Ohio, 64-55. The Rockets were plagued by poor shooting in these defeats, connecting only 35.4 percent (46-of-130) from the field, including 26.3 percent (10-of-38) from three-point land.

Toledo currently sits fifth in the MAC West Division standings, three games behind leader Central Michigan (13-4, 6-0 MAC), two contests below Northern Illinois (12-5, 5-1 MAC) and Ball State (12-6, 5-1 MAC) and one game beneath fourth-place Western Michigan (13-4, 4-2 MAC).

On Wednesday against the MAC East Division-leading Bobcats, UT started slow and had to play from behind for a majority of the contest. The Midnight Blue & Gold held the lead for only 29 seconds, while Ohio had the advantage for 37:44.

Sophomore Kaayla McIntyre paced Toledo with 11 points and three thefts in a career-high 34 minutes. The Toledo native scored in double digits for the third-straight game versus Ohio, but she was the only Rocket in double figures.

UT's next highest scorers were senior Janice Monakana, junior Jada Woody and freshman Mariella Santucci with seven points each.

Toledo's final point total and overall field-goal percentage (31.0 percent, 18-of-58) were its second-lowest marks on the season.

The Rockets, who are 6-1 away from home, are fueled offensively by the trio of junior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, sophomore Mikaela Boyd, Monakana and McIntyre, who are averaging 11.8, 11.0, 10.5 and 9.7 ppg, respectively.

UT will face another tough test tomorrow, as KSU has won three of its last four contests, including a 71-67 road triumph vs. WMU on Wednesday. The Golden Flashes outscored the Broncos, 47-32, in the second half to pull out the four-point road victory. MAC Player of the Year candidate Larissa Lurken paced Kent State with a game-high 26 points, followed by Jordan Korinek with 15.

KSU, which is 4-3 at home, is led by Lurken's MAC-best 22.7 points, 6.6 caroms and 1.1 rejections, followed by Korinek's 14.2 points.

Tomorrow's contest will pit Kent State's efficient offense against UT's stout defense.

The Golden Flashes are currently third in the MAC in scoring offense (74.5 ppg), sixth in overall field-goal percentage (.407, 150-of-369) and third in three-point field-goal percentage (.375, 36-of-96) in league games, while Toledo is first in scoring defense (59.2 ppg) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (.250, 29-of-116), as well as ranking third in overall field-goal percentage defense (.378, 129-of-341).

Toledo and Kent State will meet for the only time during the 2017 MAC campaign and the 70th time overall. The Rockets lead the all-time series against the Golden Flashes, 41-28, and have won the last eight meetings against their MAC cross-division foe.

A year ago, Toledo swept the regular-season series, securing a 73-67 home triumph (Jan. 6) and a 67-64 road victory (Feb. 6).

Despite UT's recent dominance in the series, KSU maintains a slim 15-13 advantage in contests played at home.

Following tomorrow's contest, the Rockets will host MAC West Division frontrunner CMU on Saturday, Jan. 28. The opening tip versus the Chippewas is slated for 4:30 p.m. in Savage Arena. Saturday's division match-up is the second of a doubleheader, as the Rocket men's team will have a contest against Northern Illinois at 2:00 p.m.

In conjunction with next Saturday's game, Toledo will hold its 11th-annual 'Rockets for the Cure' day. The MAC West Division showdown will help benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Northwest Ohio, the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center and the University of Toledo Center for Health and Successful Living. The Rockets encourage everyone in attendance to wear pink in support of cancer research.