Toledo Hosts Canisius in Non-Conference Finale on Sunday

TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo (4-6) will conclude its non-conference slate against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member Canisius (1-7) on Sunday, Dec. 29 in Savage Arena. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m. and will televised on ESPN+.

The Rockets are 19-19 (.500) all-time in non-league finales since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1981-82. Head Coach Tricia Cullop is also a flashy 9-2 (.818) in non-conference finales while patrolling the Toledo sidelines.

A week ago, Toledo split a pair of neutral-site contests at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, claiming a 66-65 come-from-behind victory over Pacific on Dec. 20, preceded by a 71-64 setback against Troy on Dec. 19.

Junior Nakiah Black (17.5 ppg) and freshman Quinesha Lockett (11.5 ppg) each averaged in double figures in the two games.

Against the Tigers, Toledo overcame a 16-point, third-quarter deficit en route to registering a thrilling one-point triumph.

The Midnight Blue & Gold trailed 51-35 at the 5:24 mark in the third period before outscoring Pacific 31-14 for the remainder of regulation to pull off the dramatic win.

Freshman Sophia Wiard played an integral part in Toledo's comeback, tallying seven points in the third quarter, including a 60-foot heave as the third period buzzer sounded.

Wiard's long-distance shot ignited the Rockets play in the fourth stanza, as they rattled off 10 of the first 13 points to knot the score at 61-61.

The teams then traded points before Black buried a gigantic three-point field goal to give Toledo a 66-65 lead, its first advantage since midway through the first stanza.

The Rockets then stood tall defensively in the final minute, denying Pacific a good look at the basket to emerge victorious.

An All-Tournament selection, Black paced Toledo with a season-high 23 points, followed by Lockett with 11.

The Rockets will take on a Canisius team looking to snap a five-game losing skid. Most recently, the Golden Griffins dropped a pair of neutral-site matchups against Stetson, 68-52, and Appalachian St., 74-57, at the 32nd-annual Hatter Classic on Dec. 19-20 in Deland, Fla.

Canisius, who will be playing its second MAC school this season, possesses an offense with three players averaging at least 8.5 points per game led by D'Jhai Patterson-Ricks' 18.3 ppg.

Toledo and Canisius will meet for the third time in program history and first since the 1988-89 campaign.

The Rockets lead the all-time series, 2-0, most recently claiming a 78-73 road triumph on Dec. 10, 1988. They also secured a 76-53 home victory against the Golden Griffins on Dec. 19, 1987.

Toledo is a perfect 12-0 (1.000) all-time against teams from the MAAC (2-0 vs. Canisius; 5-0 vs. Iona; 3-0 vs. Niagara; 2-0 vs. Saint Peter's), including 5-0 under Coach Cullop. The last MAAC team the Rockets faced was Iona, whom they defeated, 84-38, at home on Nov. 14, 2018.

Following Sunday's home matchup vs. Canisius, Toledo will tip off its 39th season of MAC play at division rival Western Michigan (6-4) on Saturday, Jan. 4. The MAC West Division showdown is slated for 2:00 p.m. in University Arena.

Toledo Hosts Canisius in Non-Conference Finale on Sunday

Players Mentioned

Nakiah Black

Quinesha Lockett

Sophia Wiard

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