TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's basketball team will face the Akron Zips this Saturday, Feb. 5 in Mid-American Conference action. Tip-off time at Rhodes Arena is set for 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
Saturday's contest between the Rockets (16-4, 10-1 MAC) and Zips (9-7, 6-4 MAC) will feature two of the top five teams in the MAC, with UT holding court in first place and Akron sitting in a tie with Ball State (13-7, 6-4 MAC) for fourth place in the conference standings.
 
Toledo is coming off a 74-64 win over Miami at Savage Arena on Wednesday. The Rockets shot 54.2 percent from the field, making 26-of-48 shots against the RedHawks, their second-highest field-goal percentage of the season. UT's offensive efficiency helped land five players in double figures, led by Quinesha Lockett and her 18 points.
 
In addition to Lockett, four other Rockets reached double figures in the scoring column. Jayda Jansen and Sophia Wiard scored 12 points apiece, Sammi Mikonowicz added 11 points, and Jessica Cook scored 10. Wiard also collected a game-high seven assists and Mikonowicz led all players with 10 rebounds, her third double-double of the season and her second in the last three games.
 
Toledo's 16-4 start is its best record through the first 20 games of a season since the 2012-13 campaign when the team began 18-2.
 
Following Saturday's contest, Toledo will visit Miami on Wednesday, Feb. 9 for a 7:00 p.m. battle in Oxford.
 
Last Time Out vs. Akron
 
These two teams faced off on New Year's Day at Savage Arena just over a month ago in a game the Rockets won, 64-58.
 
The Rockets led the Zips wire-to-wire in the first meeting, but saw a double-digit lead dwindle to just four points with 1:24 to go in the game. Despite the late surge by Akron, Toledo was able to hold on and win.
 
Hannah Noveroske played exceptionally well, scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Quinesha Lockett tallied her second double-double of the season, scoring 17 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. Lockett was outstanding in the fourth quarter, draining all three of her three-point attempts to help the cause. Sophia Wiard contributed 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
 
Rocket Notes

• Sammi Mikonowicz and Jessica Cook have formed quite the 1-2 tandem inside as of late. Over the last six contests, Mikonowicz is averaging 11.2 PPG and 9.2 RPG and Cook is averaging 11.5 PPG and 7.8 RPG. The two have combined for three double-doubles during that timespan as well.
• Defense has been a strength for the Rockets this season, having ranked among the leaders in scoring defense (2^nd, 59.55) and opponent field goal percentage (1^st, 35.8%) for much of the season. Toledo is one of two MAC teams allowing fewer than 60 PPG (Western Michigan, 59.44).
• In MAC play, opponents are averaging just 60.5 PPG and are shooting just 35.8% from the field against Toledo, both of which rank first in the conference.
• Offensively, the Rockets have cracked 70 points in seven of the last eight games. UT reached the 70-point benchmark five times in the first 12 games of the season.
• UT shot 54.2% from the floor against Miami, the third time this season it has shot at least 50% (57.1% vs. St. Francis, 50% vs. Loyola).
• The Rockets are shooting 75.3% from the free throw line in MAC play this year. They have shot over 80% from the line in a game five times in conference play.
• Individually, Sophia Wiard (85.7%) and Quinesha Lockett (83.3%) are shooting above 80% from the line in conference play.
• Perennially among the national leaders in attendance, Toledo is right back near the top of Division I in 2021-22. UT is averaging 3,366 fans per game in nine home games this year, which ranks 24th in the nation in average attendance. Toledo's next home game is Saturday, Feb. 12 against Bowling Green.
• Five Rockets have double-doubles this season: Quinesha Lockett (4), Jessica Cook (3), Sammi Mikonowicz (2), Nan Garcia (1), and Sophia Wiard (1).
• A Rocket has recorded a double-double in each of the last four games: Mikonowicz had one against Miami, Cook had one against BGSU on Saturday, Mikonowicz had one against Ohio, and Lockett had one against Buffalo.
• Sophia Wiard led the MAC in assist/turnover ratio last season and is in first place again in the league this season (2.41).
• Wiard played all 40 minutes in each of the last two games. Prior to that, the last Rocket to play the entire game was Quinesha Lockett, who did so in a game at Buffalo last season (1/23/21).
• Jessica Cook crashes the offensive boards as well as anybody; the freshman is averaging 3.44 ORPG (T-5th in the MAC) and tied a season-high with eight offensive boards against Ohio.
• Quinesha Lockett sits 9^th in the MAC in scoring (17.7 PPG). She's scored in double figures in 18 of 20 games this season and has cracked 20 points nine times. She is one of five players in the MAC to have at least nine 20-point performances.

 
About Akron
The Zips enter Saturday's game winners of two of their last three games, but most recently suffering a close 57-53 loss against Western Michigan on Wednesday. Akron had previously been undefeated at home prior to Wednesday's defeat. Jordyn Dawson (20.2 PPG) is not only the Zips' leading scorer, but she is one of the most prolific scorers in the conference, ranking third in that category. Dawson scored a game-high 30 points in the last meeting on Jan. 1.