Toledo Travels to Iona College for Monday Matinee

Monday, November 27

New Rochelle, N.Y.

Noon

University of Toledo

Iona

Junior Olivia Cunningham is averaging a team-high 18.5 points over the last two games, shooting a sizzling 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the field.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

11/25/2017 9:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes (PDF)

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Toledo (3-1) will look to extend its winning streak to three games on Monday, Nov. 27 when it battles Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member Iona College (0-4). The Rockets will face the Gaels at Noon in the Hynes Center, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN3.

The 2017 Mid-American Conference Champions look to continue their strong play from this past week, when it knocked off both Louisiana, 79-55, and Dayton, 68-50, at home. The Rockets featured a balanced scoring attack against the Ragin' Cajuns and Flyers with junior Olivia Cunningham (18.5 ppg), junior Kaayla McIntyre (12.5) and senior Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott (11.0) averaging double-digit points in the victories.

With the offense clicking on all cylinders, it was UT's defense that stepped to the forefront against unbeaten Flyers on Wednesday, limiting the Atlantic 10 Conference Champions to 29.7 percent (19-of-64) from the field, including a frigid 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from three-point land. The Midnight Blue & Gold also forced UD (4-1) into turning the ball over 19 times and translated those miscues into 21 points.

Offensively, McIntyre paced Toledo with a season-high 19 points and a game-high four rejections, followed by Cunningham with 10 points. UT also received seven points each from sophomore Mariella Santucci and Bravo-Harriott, as well as six by redshirt freshman Tanaya Beacham to run its home winning streak to nine-consecutive games.

As a team, the Rockets connected on 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the field, including a season-tying best 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from the charity stripe.

UT also did a fantastic job taking care of the basketball and finished with 21 assists, compared to a season-low seven turnovers. Santucci spearheaded the attack with a game-high six dimes, while Cunningham and junior Mikaela Boyd had five and four, respectively.

The Rockets broke open the game with a 17-2 run to assume a 23-8 lead at the 7:56 mark in the second period. McIntyre sparked the game-changing rally with a trio of layups to give the home team a lead it would not relinquish.

For the season, Toledo is fueled offensively by the aforementioned trio of McIntyre, Bravo-Harriott and Cunningham, who are averaging 14.0, 13.0 and 11.5 ppg, respectively. UT has five players averaging 5.8 or more points per game.

Iona enters Monday's action looking for its first win in 2017-18. Most recently, the Gaels dropped an 80-59 decision at Duquesne on Tuesday. Alexis Lewis led IC with 15 points, followed by Amelia Motz and Tori Lesko with 11 and 10, respectively.

The Gaels feature an attack with three players averaging in double figures led by Lewis' 14.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 apg and 2.5 spg.

Toledo and Iona will meet for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign and fourth time overall. The Rockets lead the series, 3-0, claiming a 92-36 home victory on Nov. 23, 2002, a 68-60 win in the championship game of the 2010 Iona Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 28 in New Rochelle, N.Y. and most recently a 54-42 home triumph on Dec. 1, 2011.

UT is a perfect 10-0 all-time against teams from the MAAC (2-0 vs. Canisius, 3-0 vs. Iona, 3-0 vs. Niagara, 2-0 vs. Saint Peter's), including 3-0 under head coach Tricia Cullop. The last MAAC team the Rockets faced other than Iona was Saint Peter's, against whom they claimed a 61-33 road victory on Nov. 30, 2010.

Following Monday's match-up, Toledo will host America East Conference member Maine on Thursday, Nov. 30. The opening tip against the Black Bears is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN3.