TOLEDO, Ohio – The 48^th season of Toledo women's basketball begins Tuesday night, as the Rockets (12-12, 8-12 MAC in 2020-21) travel to Oakland University to take on the Golden Grizzlies (12-12, 12-8 in the Horizon League) at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+).

Head coach Tricia Cullop enters her 14th season at the helm of the Rockets, who return the bulk of their offensive production from last season, including All-MAC honoree Quinesha Lockett (19.6 PPG, 47.5 FG%), Sophia Wiard (13.7 PPG, 4.3 APG), and Sammi Mikonowicz (9.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG). Toledo also welcomes in a talented class of newcomers, featuring freshmen Ella Doherty (Powmill, Scotland) and Jessica Cook (Clay, N.Y.) as well as transfers Nan Garcia (Penn State), Jayda Jansen (Maryville (Mo.) University), and Hannah Noveroske (Indiana).

Quinesha Lockett Named Preseason All-MAC
Junior Quinesha Lockett was named second-team preseason All-MAC, the league office announced last week.

A 2020-21 third-team All-MAC selection, Lockett averaged 19.6 points per game last season, which tied her for seventh all-time in program history in single-season scoring average. The Omaha, Neb. native registered the highest scoring average by a Rocket since 1998-99 when Kim Knuth averaged 25.4 points per game.

Lockett also led the team in steals (2.0/game) and was second on the team in rebounding (5.3/game) and assists (2.8/game). The sophomore shot 47.5 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. Among her MAC peers, Lockett ranked seventh in scoring and eighth in field-goal percentage.

Rocket Notes

• Yaniah Curry, Quinesha Lockett, Hannah Noveroske, and Sophia Wiard were all voted 2021-22 team captains by their teammates. Lockett and Wiard also served as team captains last season.
• This will be the second straight season that Toledo opens its season against Oakland, and the fifth time in program history that UT will open a season against Oakland.
• This also marks the third time Toledo has opened the season against the same team in consecutive years. The last time it happened was 2006 and 2007, when the Rockets played Purdue Fort Wayne in back-to-back season openers. Prior to that, UT played Xavier in three straight season openers from 1986-88.
• Toledo is 25-22 all-time in season openers and has won four of its last five. This will be the third time in the last four seasons that the Rockets have opened up the year on the road.
• Under head coach Tricia Cullop, Toledo is 8-5 in season-opening games.
• Toledo returns its top three scorers in Quinesha Lockett (19.6 PPG), Sophia Wiard (13.7 PPG), and Sammi Mikonowicz (9.2 PPG).
• Last year was the first time Toledo had two players average at least 13 PPG since 2009-10. That season Tanika Mays averaged 14.4 PPG and Naama Shafir averaged 14.3 PPG.
• Quinesha Lockett led the Rockets with 23 double-digit scoring efforts last season. She reached the 20-point plateau 13 times in 2020-21 and had three 30-point performances, including a career-high 34 points at Ball State (Jan. 6).
• Sammi Mikonowicz led Toledo in double-doubles last year as a freshman, recording three: vs. Detroit Mercy (15 P/10 R), vs. Duquesne (14 P, 11 R), and at Buffalo (10 P, 13 R).

 
All-Time Series with Oakland
Oakland leads the all-time series 7-4, but Toledo holds the edge recently, having won the last three meetings. The Rockets won last year's season opener against Oakland, 71-59. The last meeting between these two teams at Oakland's O'Rena was Nov. 18, 2009, a game Toledo won 87-75.

Next Up
Toledo hosts Wright State on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2:00 p.m. in its home opener.

Season tickets and single-game tickets are available now. To purchase season tickets or single-game tickets, order online at utrockets.com/tix, stop by the UT Athletic Ticket Office located in the Sullivan Athletic Complex at Savage Arena, or call 419-530-GOLD (4653).