TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's basketball team welcomes Akron to Savage Arena on New Year's Day for its conference home opener.
 
The Rockets (7-3, 1-0 MAC) and Zips (3-3, 0-0 MAC) will tip off on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 2:00 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
 
Toledo is coming off an impressive 69-60 win at Kent State (8-2, 0-1 MAC) on Wednesday in its first Mid-American Conference game of the season. The Rocket trailed the Golden Flashes heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored their opponent 26-15 in the final period to surge ahead and capture a big conference victory.
 
Nan Garcia led the balanced attack with 14 points. Quinesha Lockett scored 11 points, while three Rockets scored 10 points apiece: Khera Goss, Sammi Mikonowicz, and Hannah Noveroske. Noveroske had her best game as a Rocket, scoring a career-high 10 points while tallying five rebounds and five blocks.
 
This marked the second time this season that UT had five players score in double figures, the other being the season opener at Oakland.
 
Lockett (17.8 PPG) and Sophia Wiard (10.4 PPG) lead the Rockets offensively, and three members of the Midnight Blue and Gold are averaging at least five rebounds per game: Wiard (6.7 RPG), Mikonowicz (5.5 RPG), and Jessica Cook (5.2 RPG).
 
Wednesday's game between the Rockets and Golden Flashes was one of just two MAC openers on the women's side, as the rest of the league's slate was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. Buffalo defeated Central Michigan, 92-75, in the other contest.
 
Toledo's next game will also be at home, as it is scheduled to host Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Rocket Notes

• Toledo owns a 26-4 (.867) record against Akron at home, its highest winning percentage against a single opponent at Savage Arena (min. 10 meetings).
• The Rockets are now 25-16 all-time in MAC openers following Wednesday's 69-60 win at Kent State. UT has won three of its last four conference openers.
• This was the fourth time in the last five seasons that Toledo has opened up conference play on the road.
• Toledo is off to a 7-3 start this season, the third time in the last four seasons the team has owned a 7-3 record through its first 10 games.
• Perennially among the national leaders in attendance, Toledo is right back near the top of Division I in 2021-22. UT is averaging 3,619 fans per game in three home games this year, which ranks 22nd in the nation in average attendance. 
• The Rockets lead the MAC in scoring defense (58.60) and field goal percentage defense (35.6%). Toledo has held opponents to 60 points or fewer in seven of 10 games this season, and opposing teams have shot above 40% from the field just once against Toledo.
• Hannah Noveroske had a career-high five blocks in the win at Kent State (12/29), the first time a Rocket had at least five blocks in a game since Kaayla McIntyre had five blocks against Ohio on Feb. 13, 2019.
• UT registered a season-best 11 steals in the win over SIUE  (12/19)
• Quinesha Lockett sits sixth in the MAC in scoring (17.8 PPG). Lockett has scored in double figures in nine of 10 games this season and has cracked 20 points five times. She is one of five players in the MAC to have at least five 20-point performances.
• Lockett is also one of five players in the MAC this season to have at least 30 points in a game; she accomplished that feat against Loyola (Md.) at home on Dec. 11.
• Lockett is approaching an important milestone: she currently has 936 career points, just 64 away from 1,000 for her career. Once she reaches that benchmark, she will become the 31st 1,000 point scorer in program history.
• Sammi Mikonowicz has at least seven rebounds in three of the last four games, including a season-high 10 at SIUE (12/19).
• Head Coach Tricia Cullop has won 397 games in her head coaching career, putting her just four victories away from 400.

 
 
About Akron
Akron was 3-3 in non-conference action, posting wins over Slippery Rock, Robert Morris, and Detroit Mercy. The Zips experienced a significant layoff due to COVID-19, however, and Saturday's game will be their first since a Dec. 5 matchup at No. 12 Michigan. Akron is led by senior forward Jordyn Dawson, who is averaging a team-best 15.6 PPG in addition to leading the squad in rebounding (6.2 RPG).