TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team hosts Buffalo on Saturday night in its second-annual Justice for Sierah game at Savage Arena. The Rockets and Bulls will tip off at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Rockets (13-4, 6-1 MAC) are hosting this promotion in conjunction with the Justice for Sierah Foundation, which aims to protect communities by implementing the Ohio violent offender database, known as Sierah's Law, in all 50 states, as well as empowering youth through the establishment of self-awareness and self-defense in school curricula and communities through the Sierah Strong Program.  Learn more about this foundation at https://justiceforsierah.org/.

Toledo will be wearing purple uniforms for Saturday's game. The custom purple "Justice for Sierah" jerseys will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going toward the foundation. The auction is live now and closes on January 29. Access the online auction at utrockets.com/JFS.

Last Time Out
The Rockets are coming off a 72-52 win vs. Northern Illinois on Wednesday night. Individually, the Rockets' dynamic backcourt duo of Quinesha Lockett and Sophia Wiard led the way for the Midnight Blue and Gold. Lockett recorded her third double-double of the year, scoring 13 points while grabbing 12 rebounds, and Wiard scored a game-high 21 points. Wiard was 6-for-6 from the free throw line and 5-of-8 from three-point range; she is now shooting 93.8% (30-for-32) from the line and 66.7% (22-for-33) from beyond the arc in MAC play.

Lockett and Wiard both made moves in the record book as well. Lockett moved past Mimi Olson (1993-97) and into second place all-time in career scoring, bringing her career total to 2,150 points. Wiard, who appeared in her school record-setting 140th game on Wednesday, surpassed Linda Janicki (1980-84) to move into the Top 10 all-time in Toledo history in career scoring.

Rocket Notes

• The Rockets are 34-4 at home since the beginning of the 2021-22 season and have won 17 straight MAC home games.
• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Toledo is 41-4 in conference play. UT is 6-1 this year, was 16-2 a year ago, and 19-1 in 2021-22.
• Sammi Mikonowicz enters Saturday's game with 972 career points, putting her 28 away from becoming the 33^rd 1,000-point scorer in program history.
• Mikonowicz also recently cracked the Top 10 in school history in career rebounds. She ranks ninth with 788 and is 21 away from passing Jen Markwood (1996-2000) to move into eighth place.
• Toledo has held MAC opponents to 55 or fewer points in five of its seven conference games this year and leads the league in scoring defense in MAC play (55.00).  
• The Rockets have done a good job of controlling the boards in MAC play and lead the league in rebounding margin (+9.86) in conference games.
• Toledo has two games with at least 50 rebounds in MAC play and had a season-high 55 boards vs. Northern Illinois on Wednesday.
• Toledo is the top free throw shooting team in the MAC, ranking first with a 74.7 FT%. Wiard is UT's top free throw shooter (88.7%) and is second in the MAC in free throw percentage.
• Wiard is having the best three-point shooting season ever by a Rocket, having connected on 36-of-76 three-pointers. Her three-point field goal percentage (47.4%) would be the highest ever in a season in school history.
• Wiard's shooting has been lights out in MAC play. She is shooting 54.7% from the floor (41-for-75) and a remarkable 66.7% from three-point range (22-for-33).

All-Time Series vs. Buffalo
Toledo leads the all-time series vs. Buffalo, 25-9, and has won the last three meetings. The last time these two teams met was in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals last season in Cleveland, a game the Rockets won 75-74 in overtime.

About Buffalo
Buffalo is 10-7 overall and 4-3 in MAC play entering today's game. The Bulls have won three of their last four conference contests and are coming off an 82-72 win vs. Bowling Green. Chellia Watson is the MAC's leading scorer and ranks fifth in the nation, averaging 23.7 PPG. She scored a season-high 36 points vs. the Falcons on Wednesday and has 12 games with at least 20 points this season.

Next Up
Toledo's next game is Wednesday, Jan. 31 at Akron. The Rockets return home next Saturday, Feb. 3 to host Bowling Green in the Battle of I-75.

To purchase Toledo Women's Basketball 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.