Toledo Entertains A-10 Member Duquesne on Friday

Friday, December 18

Toledo, OH

5:30 P.M.

University of Toledo

Duquesne

Freshman Khera Goss and the Rockets are a perfect 3-0 all time against Atlantic 10 member Duquesne at home.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

12/17/2020 2:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes vs. Duquesne (PDF)

TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo will look to get back to its winning ways when it hosts Duquesne (2-1, 1-0 Atlantic 10) on Friday, Dec. 18. The opening tip against the A-10 member Dukes is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be shown on ESPN+.

The Rockets have begun the season winning three of their first four games for the sixth time under 13th-year head coach Tricia Cullop. They have now started a season with at least a 3-1 ledger on 21 occasions in school history. With a victory against Duquesne tomorrow, Toledo will start 4-1 for the first time since 2017-18.

Toledo and Duquesne will meet for the fourth-straight year and eighth time overall on the hardwood. The Rockets lead the all-time series against the Dukes, 4-3, most recently suffering a 79-74 road setback on the campus of La Roche University on Dec. 7, 2019. Toledo has won the three meetings in the series at home by an average of 23.7 ppg (77.7-54.0). They claimed an 87-53 triumph on Dec. 2, 2000, an 81-57 win on Nov. 25, 2003 and most recently a 65-52 victory on Nov. 18, 2018.

The Rockets are coming off a 61-57 home setback against Kent State on Sunday. The Midnight Blue & Gold put forth a furious fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Golden Flashes, 21-10, over the final 10 minutes and had a chance to tie the contest in the final minute.

Sophomore Sophia Wiard, this week's MAC co-Player of the Week and College Sports Madness High-Major Conference Player of the Week, paced Toledo with 14 points and a collegiate-best six steals, followed closely by classmates Quinesha Lockett and Mali Morgan-Elliott with 13 and a career-tying best 12 points, respectively. Freshman Khera Goss added nine points in a game-high 39:00 minutes.

Morgan-Elliott spearheaded the Rockets' comeback with eight points in the fourth quarter, while Wiard and Lockett contributed four points each to give the home team a chance in the waning moments. Unfortunately for Toledo, it was not able to complete the comeback and as a result saw its five-game win streak come to an end, dating back to last season.

Through the first four games this year, Toledo is fueled offensively by the quintet of Wiard, Lockett, freshman Sammi Mikonowicz, Goss and Morgan-Elliott, who are averaging 21.3, 16.8, 7.8, 7.5 and 7.3 ppg, respectively. This group accounts for a whopping 84.9 percent (242 of 285 points) of the Rockets' scoring.

Wiard currently litters the MAC rankings, sitting third in overall field-goal percentage (.534, 31-of-58), three-point field-goal percentage (.435, 10-of-23) and assist/turnover ratio (2.50, 15-6), fourth in scoring, sixth in three-point field-goals made (2.50), tied for sixth in assists (3.75 apg) and steals (2.50 spg), ninth in minutes played (36.12 mpg) and tied for 10th in defensive boards (5.00 rpg).

The Rockets will face a Duquesne team which has won its last two contests, most recently securing a 71-63 home triumph vs. St. Bonaventure on Dec. 11. Laia Sole led the Dukes with 13 points and eight boards, while Amanda Kalin had 11 points with five helpers. DU also received nine points, a game-high 10 caroms and a contest-best five rejections from Precious Johnson.

Duquesne features a balanced attack with five players averaging at least six points led by Kalin's 12.7 ppg. DU is 1-1 away from home this season.

Following tomorrow's contest, the Rockets will conclude non-conference play vs. North Dakota (0-5) on Monday, Dec. 21 at home. The matchup against the Summit League member Fighting Hawks will tip off at 1:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and will be streamed on ESPN3.