Courtesy: Toledo Athletics Junior Melissa Goodall and the Rockets commence their 36th season on Friday, Nov. 13 against Northwestern at 7:00 p.m.
TOLEDO, OH - Toledo commences its 36th season of women's basketball on Friday, Nov. 13 when it hosts Big Ten member Northwestern. The opening tip is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena. Two days later, UT will battle Cleveland State at 2:00 p.m. The preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference's West Division emerged victorious in 11 of 13 home contests a season ago.
UT returns a veteran lineup from last year's squad that finished 18-13 overall and 11-5 in MAC action, including all five starters in seniors Tanika Mays (12.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 spg) and Allie Clifton (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), juniors Melissa Goodall (7.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Jessica Williams (9.6 ppg, 2.6 apg), as well as sophomore Naama Shafir (11.7 ppg, 4.5 apg).
Toledo also has senior Lisa Johnson (8.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.8 bpg) returning to the fold along with sophomores Clare Aubry (1.4 ppg, 0.5 apg), Larrita Gipson (2.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and Courtney Ingersoll (4.0 ppg, 1.3 spg). Freshmen Riley McCormick, Yolanda Richardson and Lecretia Smith also should see minutes in their collegiate debuts against the Wildcats and Vikings. UT begins the regular season on the heels of an 88-64 victory against Ashland in its lone exhibition contest on Thursday, Nov. 5 at home.
Shafir led four Rockets in double figures with 17 points, and Toledo coasted to a 24-point victory over the Eagles. The preseason All-MAC West Division honoree added a team-high six assists and game-high five steals to pace the Rockets, who led by as many as 30 points in the second half and forced 26 AU turnovers.
Other top performers for the Midnight Blue and Gold included Goodall, who scored 13 points to go along with nine caroms, while Clifton added 13 points and five rebounds. Mays also cracked double figures with 10 points, five assists and four steals. Northwestern is coming off a 7-23 record in 2008-09. The Wildcats have four starters returning for second-year Head Coach Joe McKoewn. NU has been picked eighth in this year's Big Ten coaches preseason poll. They are led by junior Amy Jaeschke, who averaged 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in 2008-09.
Cleveland State, which entertains MAC participant Ohio on Friday before coming to the Glass City, finished with a 19-13 ledger in 2008-09. The Vikings also have four starters returning for seventh-year Head Coach Kate Peterson-Abiad. CSU has been tabbed to finish second in this year's Horizon League preseason poll. They are paced by senior Kailey Klein, the 2009-10 Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year, who averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 assists per game in 2008-09.
Following this weekend's two contests, Toledo will travel to Rochester, MI on Wednesday, Nov. 18 to battle Summit League member Oakland. Tip-off will be 6:30 p.m. in the Athletics Center O'Rena.
Courtesy: Toledo Athletics
