TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team (9-2) returns to the court for the first time in 2023 to host Western Michigan (5-6) in its Mid-American Conference opener on Wednesday night. The Rockets will bring a six-game winning streak into Wednesday's battle vs. Broncos, which will tip off at 7:00 p.m. at Savage Arena on ESPN+.

The last time the Rockets took the court was a 74-44 home win vs. Oakland on Dec. 21. Three Rockets reached double figures in scoring in that game, with junior Khera Goss leading the way with 13 points. Classmate Sammi Mikonowicz added 12 points and seven rebounds, and senior Quinesha Lockett scored 10 points while also grabbing seven boards. For the second game in a row, senior Sophia Wiard tied a career high with 11 rebounds.

Lockett leads Toledo in scoring at 14.9 PPG and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Goss and Mikonowicz are both averaging 9.5 PPG, and Wiard is close behind at 8.3 PPG. Mikonowicz leads the Rockets in rebounding, averaging 7.1 RPG.

Toledo closed out its much-anticipated non-conference schedule with a 9-2 record, its only losses coming to a Duke squad that is ranked No. 19 in the latest AP poll and to Penn State in a one-point decision on a neutral court. The Rockets recorded wins against #14 Michigan, Missouri State, Cincinnati, and UT Arlington during non-conference play and snapped a three-game losing streak against in-state foe Dayton.

Following Wednesday's game vs. WMU, Toledo will travel to Northern Illinois (8-3) to battle the Huskies on Saturday, Jan. 7. The NIU game will open a stretch of four games during which the Rockets will play opponents that have a combined record of 38-9.

Bleacher tickets for next week's game vs. Ball State (Jan. 11) are available for $8.00 in advance and $9.00 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at the Sullivan Athletic Complex in Savage Arena, contact the Rocket Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or go online to UTRockets.com/tix.

Rocket Notes

• During its current six-game winning streak, Toledo is shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and averaging 72.5 PPG. Opponents are shooting 35.4 percent from the floor and averaging just 55.0 PPG.
• The Rockets have jumped on teams early during their recent winning streak, outscoring the opposition 212-146 in the first half over the last six games and 117-73 in the first quarter during the same stretch.
• Once again, the Rockets lead the MAC and are among the national leaders in average attendance, ranking 23rd nationally (4,008). They rank third among mid-major teams, only trailing New Mexico (4,967) and Gonzaga (4,810).
• Khera Goss has been on fire as of late, averaging 12.5 PPG and shooting 55.9 percent from the floor (19-for-34). She has cracked double figures in scoring in all four games.
• Sophia Wiard is approaching 1,000 career points and currently sits at 966. She will become the 32nd member of the 1,000 point club at Toledo and the first to do so since teammate Quinesha Lockett did so last year.
• Both Wiard (4.3) and Lockett (4.2) rank in the top five in the MAC in assists per game, ranking second and third, respectively. Both players have either led Toledo or tied for the team lead in assists in seven of 11 games this season.
• Toledo has held each of its opponents in the last two games to fewer than 50 points, the first time it has done that since 2014 when it held Southern Illinois to 48 points on Dec. 20 and UW-Parkside to 43 points on Dec. 30. UT has held its opponent to under 50 points in three of the last five games.
• Toledo ranks in the top three in the MAC in scoring defense (58.27), field goal percentage defense (38.0%), and three-point field goal percentage defense (26.0%), leading the league in the latter.
• The Rockets have done an excellent job of getting to the free throw line and making their free throws this season. UT ranks first in the MAC in both free throw attempts per game (20.6) and free throws made per game (15.8) and ranks second in free throw percentage (76.7%). Toledo is 18th in the country in made free throws per game.
• UT has made it to the free throw line at least 25 times in five games this season and has cracked 30 free throws in three games, including a season-high 33 times at Cincinnati.
• The Rockets have done an exceptional job of taking care of the ball, ranking second in the MAC and 16th in the country in fewest turnovers per game (12.7). UT has committed 12 or fewer turnovers in seven of its 11 games, including a season-low eight turnovers in the season open-er vs. Wright State.

About Western Michigan
Western Michigan (5-6) enters Wednesday's game having won three of its last four contests, thought its last outing was an 85-57 loss at #5 Notre Dame on Dec. 21. The Broncos boast the MAC's leading scorer in sophomore guard Lauren Ross, who is averaging 21.4 PPG. Ross ranks tenth in the nation in scoring and has three games with at least 25 points, including a season-high 35 vs. Chicago State on Dec. 17. Few teams shoot as many three-pointers as WMU does; its 28.7 three-point field goal attempts per game leads the MAC and ranks eighth in the country.