ATLANTA, Ga. - Toledo tips off its 46th season of women's basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 5 when the Midnight Blue & Gold travels to 2019 WBI participant Georgia State. The opening tip is slated for 6:00 p.m. in the GSU Sports Arena. Tomorrow's season opener can be heard locally on 94.9 FM (BVKS/WVKS-HD2 The Beat).
 
The Rockets are 23-22 (.511) all-time in season openers, including a 6-5 (.545) mark under head coach Tricia Cullop.
 
Toledo, which was recently picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division preseason poll, welcomes back nine letterwinners from last year's squad that finished with a 21-12 overall record and made its seventh appearance in the Postseason WNIT in 11 years under Coach Cullop. As far as numbers go, the Rockets welcome back 54.0 percent of their scoring, 45.3 percent of their rebounding, 62.4 percent of their assists, 30.1 percent of their blocks and 56.5 percent of their steals in 2019-20.
 
Leading the way for Toledo this season are its three captains — senior Mariella Santucci (9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.3 spg), junior Nakiah Black (10.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 spg) and junior Tanaya Beacham (3.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg).
 
Toledo will begin the regular season on the heels of an impressive 86-59 victory in exhibition action against Findlay on Saturday at home.
 
Junior Tatyana Davis and Beacham paced a balanced Rockets' attack with 13 points each vs. the Oilers, followed closely by Santucci and Black with 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Midnight Blue & Gold also received nine points from freshman Quinesha Lockett. In total, eight different players totaled at least six points in the convincing 27-point home triumph.
 
As a team, the Rockets shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the floor, including 30.0 percent (9-of-30) from three-point land, and 63.0 percent (17-of-27) from the free throw line.
 
Toledo flexed its muscles on the glass and finished with a plus-nine, 42-33, rebounding advantage, as six players pulled down at least four caroms. Among those 42 boards were 18 offensive rebounds which they translated into 25 points.
 
The Rockets were also tough defensively, forcing Findlay to commit 30 turnovers. The home team took full advantage of those miscues and turned them into 27 points.
 
Georgia State finished last year 17-14 overall and 11-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. GSU welcomes back four of its top five scorers, led by 2018-19 second-team all-league selection Jada Lewis (13.9 ppg) and 2018-19 SBC Newcomer of the Year Allison Johnson (11.6 ppg). Gene Hill is set to begin his second season at the helm of the program.
 
Toledo and Georgia State will meet for the third time on the hardwood. The Rockets registered an 80-54 neutral-court victory over the Panthers in the opening round of the 1983 Miami (Fla.) Classic in Coral Gables, Fla. Toledo also posted a 46-43 road triumph against GSU in the championship game of the 2012 GSU Holiday & Hoops Tournament in Atlanta.
 
The Rockets are 4-2 (.667) all-time against teams from the SBC (1-2 vs. Arkansas St., 2-0 vs. Georgia State, 1-0 vs. Louisiana), including 3-2 (.667) under Coach Cullop.
 
The last SBC team the Rockets faced was Louisiana against whom they claimed a 79-55 home victory in the consolation round of the 2017 Preseason WNIT on Nov. 18.
 
Toledo is also scheduled to play SBC member Troy on Thursday, Dec. 19 in the first round of the Las Vegas South Point Holiday Hoops Classic at 2:30 p.m. (PST).
 
Following tomorrow's season opener, Toledo will host Atlantic 10 member Dayton on Saturday, Nov. 9 in its home opener. The opening tip against the Flyers is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena.