Toledo Concludes Road Swing at Cleveland State on Wednesday

Wednesday, December 5

Cleveland, Ohio

5:00 P.M.

University of Toledo

Cleveland State

Junior Sara Rokkanen is shooting a team-high 47.2 percent (17-of-36) from three-point land, the second-highest mark in the MAC.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Concludes Road Swing at Cleveland State on Wednesday

12/4/2018 11:07:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes vs. CSU (PDF)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Toledo (5-2) will conclude its season-long five-game road swing at Horizon League member Cleveland State (3-5) on Wednesday, Dec. 5. The contest will tip off at 5:00 p.m. in the Wolstein Center and will be shown on ESPN+.

The Rockets have won three of the first four contests during this road swing and are 99-76 away from the friendly confines of Savage Arena over the last 10-plus seasons under Head Coach Tricia Cullop.

UT is coming off a 58-48 victory at American Athletic Conference foe Memphis (2-5) on Saturday in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Senior Mikaela Boyd paced the Rockets with a contest-tying best 15 points against the Tigers, to go along with two boards, four helpers and a season-high four thefts. Boyd was clutch in the fourth period, tallying seven points to help the Midnight Blue & Gold post its third-straight road win.

Joining Boyd in double figures were senior Kaayla McIntyre and junior Sara Rokkanen with 12 points each. Rokkanen did all her damage from beyond the arc, tying her career high for a second-straight game with four triples.

One of the key reasons for Toledo winning three-straight games has been its defense. The Rockets have allowed the opposition to shot only 35.1 percent (65-of-185) from the field, including 25.0 percent (16-of-64) from three-point land, and average 58.7 points.

Overall this year, UT features a balanced attack with McIntyre, junior Mariella Santucci, Boyd and Rokkanen averaging 14.0, 11.6, 9.3 and 9.0 ppg, respectively.

Toledo will face a CSU team that has dropped its last three contests, most recently suffering a 72-54 setback at Mid-American Conference member Ohio on Dec. 1. Mariah Miller led the Vikings with 15 points in a game-high 37 minutes versus the Bobcats.

Cleveland State possesses an offense with four players averaging in double digits led by Miller and Jade Ely's 16.4 and 15.9 ppg. Miller also pulls down a team-high 7.9 rebounds. The Vikings are a perfect 3-0 at home this season.

UT and CSU will meet for the fifth straight year and 27th time in the overall series. The Rockets have won the last three match-ups against their interstate opponent and lead the all-time series, 17-9, including a 65-56 home victory on Dec. 9, 2017.

Two years ago, the Midnight Blue & Gold secured a convincing 92-59 road triumph over CSU to snap a three-game losing skid in the Wolstein Center (Nov. 19, 2016).

Toledo is 67-44 (.604) all-time against Horizon League schools (17-9 vs. Cleveland State; 19-9 vs. Detroit Mercy; 1-3 vs. Green Bay; 3-2 vs Milwaukee; 3-7 vs. Oakland; 7-1 vs. UIC; 0-1 vs. Valparaiso; 7-3 vs. Wright State; 10-9 vs. Youngstown State), including 19-8 (.704) under head coach Tricia Cullop.

The Rockets are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak against Horizon League teams dating back to the 2014-15 campaign. The last Horizon League squad to defeat UT is Detroit Mercy, 83-72, in the second round of the 2014 Glass City Classic in Savage Arena (Dec. 14).

UT will host defending National Champion Notre Dame (7-1) on Saturday, Dec. 8. The opening tip against the No. 2 ranked Fighting Irish is slated for 1:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be shown on ESPN+.

Toledo and ND will square off for the third time in the last four years and ninth time overall. The Fighting Irish have won the last four match-ups against the Rockets and lead the all-time series, 5-3.

Two years ago, the Midnight Blue & Gold dropped an 85-68 decision to Notre Dame on Dec. 18, 2016 before 5,697 fans in Savage Arena, the sixth-largest crowd in program history.