TOLEDO, Ohio – Mid-American Conference play continues on Saturday for the Toledo women's basketball team as it heads to Eastern Michigan for an afternoon contest.

The Rockets (8-3, 1-0 MAC) and Eagles (4-7, 1-0 MAC) will tip off at 1:00 p.m. at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti.

Last Time Out
Toledo opened MAC play on Wednesday with a 70-52 win at Miami.

The Rockets and RedHawks traded leads in the first half, though UT led by two heading into halftime. Toledo was able to increase its lead to six by the end of the third quarter and ended the game on a 12-0 run to turn a close game into a sizable victory.

Sophia Wiard was outstanding, connecting on 9-of-15 shots from the floor and 6-of-7 field goals from beyond the arc to collect a season-high 26 points. She also added a season-high eight assists and six rebounds to help the cause. Wiard has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games.

Hannah Noveroske scored a season-high 15 points, making 7-of-10 shots, and tied her season-best rebound total with nine. Sammi Mikonowicz joined her teammates in double figures and scored 11 points. Emmi Rinat stuffed the box score with six points, six assists, five rebounds, and three blocks.

All-Time Series vs. Eastern Michigan
Toledo leads the all-time series vs. Eastern Michigan, 56-36, and has won five straight match-ups. The last time UT played at EMU was last season on Jan. 28, a game that Toledo won in overtime despite trailing by 12 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Rocket Notes

• Wednesday's win at Miami marked the fourth straight season that Toledo has won its first MAC game of the year. It was also the fourth time in the last five seasons that it opened conference play on the road.
• Sophia Wiard was named the MAC's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Wednesday, the second time this season and third time in her career she has received that honor.
• Wiard scored a season-high 26 points at Miami and knocked down six three-pointers, the most threes by a Rocket in a game since Quinesha Lockett had seven vs. Buffalo last season on Feb. 8, 2023.
• Wiard is approaching the program's all-time minutes played record. The fifth-year point guard has been on the court for 4,103 minutes during her Rocket career and trails only Andola Dortch (4,160) and Naama Shafir (4,218).
• One last Wiard note: she leads the MAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.32) and ranks second in assists (5.27). She has led Toledo in assists in nine of 11 games this year.
• Toledo set season highs in three-pointers (13) and blocks (9) at Miami. Hannah Noveroske, Emmi Rinat, and Nan Garcia all tallied three blocks apiece.
• The Rockets lead the MAC in scoring defense (60.18) and have allowed fewer than 60 points in six games this season, including each of the last two.
• Hannah Noveroske is averaging 1.55 BPG, which ranks third in the MAC. She has blocked a season-best three shots on three occasions this year, most recently at Miami on Wednesday.

About Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan is 4-7 entering play Saturday and won its MAC opener on Wednesday, 67-49, at Northern Illinois. The Eagles are currently on a three-game win streak with wins over IUPUI (84-74), Saginaw Valley (69-44), and NIU (67-49). ZaNiya Nelson (9.7 PPG) and Tayra Eke (9.1 PPG) lead EMU in scoring.

Next Up
Toledo hosts Western Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 10 in its first home MAC game of the year.

The WMU game is part of the Rockets' Winter Spectacular, during which fans can purchase discounted bleacher tickets for $8.00. Tickets are based on availability, with prices increasing to $9.00 on game day. To purchase tickets for the Winter Spectacular, 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/WinterSpectacular.