Iowa Women's Basketball Tip Time Preview: Toledo Rockets

TIME:

TV: Big Ten Network – Sloane Martin and Brenda VanLengen

SERIES: First Meeting – Iowa is 17-6 all-time against MAC opponents

OFFENSE: IOWA:TOLEDO:

DEFENSE: IOWA: TOLEDO:

Forward Sammi Mikonowicz

Toledo lost their top two scorers from last season, but Third Team All-MAC selection Sammi Mikonowicz returns to lead the way. The fifth-year senior from Rossford, Ohio has started all 128 games she has played in over the course of her career. Last season, Mikonowicz averaged 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.6% from two-point range. She scored in double figures in 14 games, including a season-high 24 points against Ball State. In the season opener against Marshall, Mikonowicz finished with 15 points and six rebounds. If someone is going to help keep Toledo close, it will be Mikonowicz.

Three-point shooting

The schedule difficulty is about to ramp up another level after tonight, with consecutive games upcoming against Drake, Kansas and Washington State. Although the Hawkeyes have delivered back-to-back double-digit victories, the three-point shooting has not been at the level they would like it to be. Entering tonight, Iowa is shooting just 27.7% from long distance. I'm looking for the Hawkeyes to try to get some open looks from the perimeter tonight to build some confidence. Look for Lucy Olsen, Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe all to net multiple three-pointers.

The Rockets are coming off of a 27-6 season that saw them come up just short in the MAC Semifinals against Buffalo. They advanced to the WBIT Quarterfinals before losing to Washington State. Now, the program is led by first-year head coach Ginny Boggess who spent the last three seasons as the head coach at Monmouth. Toledo returns 58.2% of their scoring last season and was picked fifth in the MAC preseason coaches' poll.

Taking a look at the rest of players to watch for the Rockets, St Francis (PA) transfer guard Kendall Carruthers was their lone addition in the portal over the offseason. Named Northeast Conference Freshman of the Year last season, Carruthers averaged 14.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Red Flash. She scored in double figures in 21 games, including a season-high 32 points against Wagner. Carruthers ranked six in the NEC with 52 made three-pointers and posted eight games with 3+ made threes.

Joining Carruthers in the backcourt is grad senior guard Khera Goss. The Rockets best defender, Goss is a two-time All-MAC Defensive Team selection and is a four-year starter. She averaged 8.2 points per game last season, scoring in double figures in 12 games. With 126 career steals accumulated, it will be interesting to see who Goss matches up against on defense.

Also expect to see 6-foot-2 forward Jessica Cook get some minutes inside. Cook appeared in all 33 games with five starts last season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. She got the start in the season opener, putting up eight points and four rebounds in just ten minutes on the floor.

Round out the players to watch for Toledo, 6-foot-0 forward Nan Garcia presents an interesting challenge for defenders. She has guard height and can shoot the three, but can also post up against guards with her larger frame. Garcia averaged 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes per game last season. She shot 38.2% from three-point range and 48.0% from two-point range, totaling four games in double figures.

WarrenNolan Projection: Iowa 80 Toledo 67