Toledo Tips Off Longest Home Stretch vs. Memphis on Sunday

Sunday, November 24

Toledo, Ohio

2:00 P.M.

University of Toledo

Memphis

Senior transfer Arianne Whitaker is shooting a team-high 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the field through the first three games.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Tips Off Longest Home Stretch vs. Memphis on Sunday

11/22/2019 10:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Memphis Game Notes (PDF)

TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo (1-2) will tip off its longest home stretch of the season when it hosts American Athletic Conference (AAC) member Memphis (2-3) on Sunday, Nov. 24. The matchup against the Tigers is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be televised on ESPN+.

The Rockets' next three games will take place in the friendly confines of Savage Arena. They have been nearly dominant at home over the last 11-plus years, compiling a stout 137-41 (.770) ledger.

Toledo is coming off a tough 54-51 road setback at perennial power Notre Dame on Wednesday before 7,269 fans in Purcell Pavilion. The Midnight Blue & Gold held a 44-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Rockets were outscored 13-7 over the final 10 minutes and suffered their sixth-straight loss to the Fighting Irish (3-2).

Toledo misfired on 11 of its 14 shots (21.4 percent) in Wednesday's fourth period, while ND connected on four-of-10 field-goal attempts and made five free throws to stake claim to the hard-fought, three-point win.

Junior Nakiah Black paced the Rockets with 12 points, a career-high nine rebounds and two steals. Freshman Mali Morgan-Elliott added a season-high 10 points, followed closely by junior Tatyana Davis with nine.

As a team, Toledo shot 34.4 percent (21-of-61) from the floor, including 20.0 percent (5-of-25) from three-point land, and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from the free throw line.

Sam Brunelle led Notre Dame with a game-high 19 points and a contest-best 13 boards to post a double-double, while Destinee Walker and Kaitlyn Gilbert contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively. This trio accounted for all 13 points in the pivotal fourth quarter to help propel ND to the home victory.

Through the first three games this season, Toledo is fueled offensively by the quartet of Davis, senior transfer Arianne Whitaker, junior Tanaya Beacham and Black, who are averaging 9.7, 7.7, 7.3 and 7.3 ppg, respectively.

The Rockets will battle a Memphis squad that registered a 70-66 road victory at Southern Illinois on Wednesday. 2018-19 AAC All-Rookie Team recipient Jamirah Shutes led the Tigers with 23 points against the Salukis, while Dulcy Mendjiadeu had 12 points and a game-high 12 boards to post her first-collegiate double-double.

The Tigers feature an offense with four players scoring at least 8.0 ppg, paced by Shutes' 18.2 ppg. They are 1-1 away from home this season.

Memphis, which is in the midst of a four-game road swing, returns five letterwinners from last season's 11-20 squad, guided by 12th-year head coach Melissa McFerrin.

Toledo and Memphis will meet for a second-straight year and third time overall on the hardwood. A season ago, the Rockets registered a 58-48 road victory against the Tigers in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse (Dec. 1). Toledo also claimed a 71-68 overtime triumph vs. Memphis on Jan. 4, 2008 in the FedEx Forum.

Toledo is 5-14 (.263) all-time against AAC schools (3-8 vs. Cincinnati; 0-1 vs. Connecticut; 2-0 vs. Memphis; 0-1 vs. SMU; 0-2 vs. Temple; 0-1 vs. Tulane; 0-1 vs. Wichita State), including 2-2 (.500) under head coach Tricia Cullop. The last AAC squad the Rockets battled other than Memphis was Cincinnati in the second round of the 2012 Postseason WNIT, whom they defeated, 72-51, in Savage Arena (March 19).

Following Sunday's home contest vs. Memphis, Toledo will entertain Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) member Valparaiso (1-3) on Wednesday, Nov. 27. The opening tip against the Crusaders is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be shown on ESPN+.