TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo (1-3) will continue its longest home stretch of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 27 when it entertains Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) member Valparaiso (2-3). The matchup against the Crusaders is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be televised on ESPN+.

The Rockets opened their three-game homestand with a tough 83-76 setback against American Athletic Conference member Memphis (3-3) on Sunday before 3,768 fans in Savage Arena. 

The Tigers connected on a season-high 52.0 percent (26-of-50) from the field, including an impressive 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from three-point range, and 61.5 percent (23-of-29) from the charity stripe to avenge a 58-48 home setback against Toledo last season.

Madison Griggs knocked down all eight treys for the visitors and posted a career-high 24 points off the bench to spark Memphis. 
    
Junior Nakiah Black paced Toledo with a season-high 18 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, followed closely by classmate Tatyana Davis with a collegiate-best 17.

As a team, the Rockets shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the floor, including a season-high 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from three-point land, and 64.0 percent (16-of-25) from the free throw line.

Through the first four games this season, Toledo is fueled offensively by the quartet of Davis, Black, senior Mariella Santucci and senior transfer Arianne Whitaker, who are averaging 11.5, 10.0, 7.0 and 7.0 ppg, respectively.

Davis is currently sixth in the MAC in three-point field-goal percentage (.421, 8-of-19) and tied for 12th in three-point field-goals made (2.0, 8).

The Rockets, who are 0-2 at home, will take on a Valpo squad that is coming off a 95-90 overtime home victory against Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green on Sunday. The Crusaders rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit vs. the Falcons and scored the first five points in the extra period to snap a two-game losing skid. Grace Hales and Shay Frederick led the way with a career-high 21 points each.

Valpo features an offense with four players scoring at least 7.0 ppg, paced by Addison Stoller's 13.2 ppg and 6.0 rpg. They are 1-3 away from home this season.

Guided by second-year head coach Mary Evans, a former assistant at MAC-member Ohio, the Crusaders ranked among the Top 25 nationally in both total three-point field-goals made and three-pointers per game a season ago.

Toledo and Valparaiso will meet for a second-straight year and third time overall on the hardwood. 

A season ago, Toledo secured a hard-fought 65-59 triumph against Valpo in the Athletics-Recreation Center (Nov. 26). Santucci poured in a team-high 20 points, including 15 in the first half, to help the Rockets escape town with the six-point road victory. The Bologna, Italy added four boards, a squad-best five helpers and a team-high three thefts in 34 minutes. 

Kaayla McIntyre added 14 points for Toledo, while senior Sara Rokkanen and Mikaela Boyd had eight each.

Meredith Hamlet paced Valparaiso with a game-high 26 points, followed by Toledo native Bryce Blood with 10 points and a game-high 10 caroms. 

Back in 2013, Sharon Karungi scored on an offensive rebound with 3.1 seconds left to give Valparaiso a 63-61 victory over Toledo in the final game of the Toledo Invite in the "Glass City." The Rockets had a chance to take a three-point lead with 14 seconds left, but Elena de Alfredo's three-pointer from the left corner hit the rim twice before falling out. The missed shot was tied up, with the possession arrow giving the ball to the Crusaders. Following a timeout, Valpo's Lexi Miller drove the length of the floor and missed on the drive, which was grabbed by Karungi in the paint and banked in. 

Toledo is 13-13 (.500) all-time against MVC schools (1-2 vs. Bradley; 4-2 vs. Evansville; 2-3 vs. Indiana State; 2-3 vs. Loyola (Ill.); 0-2 vs. Missouri State; 1-0 vs. Northern Iowa; 2-0 vs. Southern Illinois; 1-1 vs. Valparaiso), including 3-4 (.429) under head coach Tricia Cullop. The last MVC school the Rockets faced other than Valpo was Southern Illinois, whom they defeated 64-48 in the second round of the 2014 New Orleans Shootout (Dec. 20).

Following tomorrow's home game vs. Valparaiso, the Rockets will battle Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) member Belmont (3-2) on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The opening tip against the Bruins is slated for 11:00 a.m. in Savage Arena and will be shown on ESPN3. Toledo will also host Rocket Women's Basketball's Education Day in conjunction with Tuesday's matchup vs. Belmont. A crowd of at least 2,500 students, teachers and fans are expected to be in attendance.