Toledo Hits Road for Saturday Matinee Contest at Northern Illinois

Saturday, February 16

DeKalb, Ill.

1:00 P.M. (CT)

University of Toledo

Northern Illinois

Senior Kaayla McIntyre has registered 14.3 points & 7.1 caroms in seven games in her career vs. NIU, shooting 64.3 percent (45-of-70) from the floor.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Toledo Hits Road for Saturday Matinee Contest at Northern Illinois

2/14/2019 10:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

WBB Game Notes vs. NIU (PDF)

DeKALB, Ill. - Toledo (15-7, 7-4 MAC) will look to remain unbeaten against Mid-American Conference West Division opponents on Saturday, Feb. 16 when it travels to Northern Illinois (14-9, 6-5 MAC). Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m. ET) in the Convocation Center and will be streamed on ESPN3.

UT is 75-38 (.664) versus MAC West Division foes over the last 10-plus seasons under head coach Tricia Cullop, including a 16-6 (.727) ledger vs. NIU.

Thus far in 2018-19, the Rockets have tallied a perfect 4-0 record against division opponents.

Toledo enters tomorrow's action on the heels of an impressive 76-50 home triumph against MAC East Division frontrunner Ohio on Wednesday.

Sophomore Nakiah Black paced UT offensively with a season-tying best six triples and 20 points against the Bobcats (20-3, 9-3 MAC). The first-year Rocket shot a blistering 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, equaling the ninth-most treys in school history.

Senior Kaayla McIntyre added 17 points, a game-high 12 caroms and a season-tying best five rejections to post her sixth double-double of the year and 15th as a Rocket.

Junior Mariella Santucci also notched her third career double-double with 13 points and a season-high 10 helpers.

Rounding out UT's double-digit scorers was senior Mikaela Boyd with 14 points, to go along with six dimes.

Toledo was extremely efficient offensively vs. Ohio, shooting a season-high 59.2 percent (29-of-49) from the field and collecting a MAC season-tying best 25 assists. The Rockets also converted a season-best 62.5 percent (10-of-16) from three-point range to record their sixth win over the last eight games.

As good as the Rockets were offensively, it was their defense that shined the brightest on the big stage. UT limited the Bobcats to a season-low 24.0 percent (18-of-75) shooting mark, including a frigid 7.7 percent (2-of-26) from behind the three-point arc, en route to its second-straight victory in the series.

Ohio came into the MAC cross-division showdown leading the league is scoring offense (82.5 ppg), three-point field-goal percentage (.385) and three-point field-goals made (10.6, 233), as well as ranking second in overall field-goal percentage (.456).

Overall this year, UT features a balanced attack with McIntyre, Santucci, Boyd and Black averaging 15.6, 10.9, 10.0 and 9.7 ppg, respectively. This quartet accounts for 68.1 percent (1,005-of-1,475) of Toledo's scoring.

The Rockets, who are 6-5 in games away from home, will battle an NIU squad that is coming a tough 70-45 road setback at current MAC East Division leader Miami (18-4, 9-2 MAC) on Wednesday to snap its three-game winning streak. All-MAC candidate Mikayla Voigt paced the Huskies with nine points vs. the RedHawks, followed closely by Myia Starks and Gabby Nikitinaite with eight and seven, respectively.

Northern Illinois, which is 9-2 at home, possesses an offense with three players averaging at least 11.7 points per contest fueled by Voigt's 20.9 ppg, the second-highest total in the MAC.

UT and NIU will meet for the first of two times this year and 55th time overall. The Rockets will host the Huskies on Saturday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena.

Toledo leads the all-time series, 34-20, and has won five of the last seven meetings against its division rival. NIU holds a 24-11 edge in games played in DeKalb.

A year ago, the teams split their two meetings with the home team emerging victorious each time. The Rockets secured a 63-60 home triumph against the Huskies in Savage Arena (Jan. 13), before suffering an 89-79 road setback in the Convocation Center (Feb. 28).

Following tomorrow's MAC West Division match-up, the Rockets will host Miami on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The opening tip against the RedHawks is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be shown on ESPN+.

UT and MU will meet for the second time this year and 66th time overall. The Rockets suffered a 65-64 road setback against the RedHawks on Jan. 9 in Millett Hall.

Toledo leads the all-time series vs. Miami, 38-27, but has lost the last two match-ups against its cross-division foe. UT has won the last six meetings between the intrastate rivals at home and holds a 22-8 advantage in games played in the friendly confines of Savage Arena.

Two years ago, UT claimed a 64-50 home victory (Jan. 7).