TOLEDO, Ohio -     Toledo will take to the hardwood on Saturday, Nov. 3 to commence its 2018-19 season against NCAA Division II foe Findlay in Savage Arena. The game is slated for Noon and admission is free. Saturday's exhibition match-up is the first of a doubleheader, as the Rocket men's team will follow with a contest against NCAA Division II member Hillsdale at 2:30 p.m.

UT, who earlier this week was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division in a vote of the league's head coaches and Athletic Communication Directors, will open its regular season at 2018 America East Conference champion Maine on Saturday, Nov. 10. Tipoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. in the Cross Insurance Center.

Toledo is slated to return nine letterwinners in 2018-19, including four starters from last year's squad that posted an 18-15 overall record and made its sixth appearance in the Postseason WNIT in 10 years under Heach Coach Tricia Cullop. The Rockets defeated Horizon League member Wright State, 64-50, in the first round before falling at Big Ten foe Michigan State, 68-66, in the second round.

Two-time All-MAC honoree senior Mikaela Boyd (12.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.2 apg), 2017-18 third-team All-MAC selection senior Kaayla McIntyre (16.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 bpg) and 2016-17 All-MAC Freshman recipient junior Mariella Santucci (6.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.6 spg) will be the focal points of UT's offense in 2018-19.

Earlier this week, McIntyre was tabbed to the 2018-19 Preseason All-MAC West Division Team.

UT also has senior Sarah St-Fort (2.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg), senior Mae Tshitenge (0.7 rpg), junior Sara Rokkanen (4.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg), sophomore Tanaya Beacham (3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), sophomore Mariah Copeland (0.4 ppg, 0.3 rpg), sophomore Tatyana Davis (1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg) returning to the fold this season. As far as numbers go, the Rockets welcome back 66.7 percent of their scoring, 69.3 percent of their rebounding, 76.0 percent of their assists, 78.2 percent of their blocks and 83.5 percent of their steals.

Redshirt sophomore Tyra Carlsten-Handberg, freshman Sophia Fortner and freshman Jaela Johnson should also see the floor in their official UT debuts against the Oilers, while sophomore transfer Nakiah Black and freshman Lexi Lance will most likely sit out the contest due to injury.

A season ago, Santucci scored 19 points to lead Toledo to a 99-41 exhibition win over Lock Haven at home.

Santucci shot 7-of-9 from the floor and added four assists. The Rockets placed three other players in double figures in the decisive win, including Olivia Cunningham (14 points), Michaela Rasmussen (12) and Tshitenge (11). UT had a total of 11 players find the scoring column, leading to a 45-11 margin in bench production. The Rockets shot 54.6 percent (35-of-64) from the field, while holding the Bald Eagles to just 28.8 percent (15-of-52). UT outscored Lock Haven 26-0 in fast-break points.

Toledo also forced LHU into 31 turnovers and scored 46 points off of those miscues. 

The Bald Eagles were led by Mackenzie Livingston with 10 points.

Findlay finished last season with a 22-8 overall record and a 17-5 ledger in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Oilers tied for second in the regular season standings and reached the conference tournament final. Their success propelled them into the NCAA Division II National Tournament, where they were defeated 76-72 by Drury University in the opening round.

Findlay has been picked to finish in a tie for first place in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll with Hillsdale. Leading the way for the Oilers will be 2017-18 first-team all-league honoree Anna Hintz, who averaged a team-high 18.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest. She also shot 55.1 percent from the floor and blocked 0.9 shots per game. Head Coach Jim Wiedie is set to begin his sixth season at the helm of the program.

The Rockets' exhibition matchup against the Oilers will be their second in the last four years. UT tallied an 82-51 home victory in 2015.