DETROIT (12/19/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team plays its final non-conference game Friday evening, traveling to Toledo for a battle with the Rockets at 7 p.m. from Savage Arena. The game may also be seen live via ESPN-Plus for a small subscription fee.
Detroit Mercy and Toledo are playing for the third-straight season in women's basketball and 29th time overall in the all-time series. The Titans are also playing their fourth-straight contest against the Mid-American Conference.
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Quick Hits
• Detroit Mercy and Toledo are meeting for the 29th time in women's basketball and in the third consecutive season. The Titans last won over the Rockets in 2014.
• The Titans have recorded 47 steals in the past four games, including 16 against Omaha at home, which was the most in a game since 2009. Detroit Mercy ranks fourth in steals (8.6) as a squad, while
Paige Bellman is third in the league (2.1).
• Junior wing
Zoey Oatis is the only player in the Horizon League this season with two, five-steal games this season. Oatis ranks seventh in the league in steals per game (1.8).
• Sophomore
Lexey Tobel scored all 19 points at Bowling Green in the second half, helping lead a comeback attempt on the road. Tobel has surpassed the 19-point plateau three times this season, scoring a Titan season-best 23 in the opener.
Last Time Out
The Titans scored 49 points after the halftime break in a furious rally on the road at Bowling Green, ultimately falling to the Falcons, 79-73. Detroit Mercy, which trailed by 18 midway through the third quarter, rallied to within two points with 1:10 left after
Lexey Tobel converted on a tough lay-up off her own miss.
After Bowling Green went up five, Tobel connected on a 3-pointer from the wing to again pull the Titans to within two, 75-73, with 26 seconds left but the Falcons made all four free throws in the final seconds to win.
Tobel scored all of her team-best 19 points after the halftime break.
Zoey Oatis added 17 points and a career-high-tying five steals, while freshman guard
Jiera Shears put together the best game in her young career with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. The Titans shot 51 percent after halftime and had just seven turnovers, the lowest total since 2016 in coach Scott's first season.
Titan Thievery
The Titans have 47 steals in the past four games -- swiping 16 against Omaha at home, netting nine more steals against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 5 and adding 12 against Western Michigan on Dec. 9 and then tallying 10 steals at Bowling Green. Detroit Mercy has tallied six games of nine or more steals this season:
   16 -- vs. Omaha (Nov. 29, 2018)
   12 -- vs. Western Michigan (Dec. 9, 2018)
   11 -- at Loyola (Nov. 12, 2018)
   10 -- at Manhattan (Nov. 24, 2018)
   10 -- at Bowling Green (Dec. 17, 2018)
   9 -- at Eastern Michigan (Dec. 5, 2018)
Paige Bellman leads the Titans and ranks third in the Horizon League in steals per game (2.1), while teammate
Zoey Oatis has 18 steals, including two games of five steals (vs. Omaha, at BGSU).
Lexey Tobel (10 steals),
Jess Bicknell (9 steals) and
Sophia DiMilia (9 steals) are all above nine steals so far in 2018-19.
Scouting Toledo
Toledo is 7-3 on the season, which includes an 80-48 home victory over Stony Brook on Tuesday. The Rockets are 3-1 at home in 2018-19. Toledo has won five of the last six contests.
Kaayla McIntyre leads the Rockets in scoring at 15.4 points per game, leading the squad in scoring in four of the 10 contests. Mariella Santucci also scores in double figures at 10.7 points per game. Sara Rokkanen is tops on the team with 19, 3-pointers.
Toledo averages 65.9 points per game, while allowing 58.9 points on the defensive end. The Rockets is shooting 43.2 percent from the floor this season, averaging 15.2 assists per contest.
All-Time Series
The Titans have lost two-straight against Toledo, winning in Savage Arena in 2014. Detroit Mercy is 9-19 all-time against the Rockets, dating back to 1978. The red, white and blue are 4-11 in road games against Toledo.
Detroit Mercy has played Toledo in three-straight seasons on Dec. 21. Last season, the Titans fell 81-64 against the Rockets on Dec. 21, 2017.
Lexey Tobel hit three treys and had 11 points in the game.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy opens Horizon League play next Friday, hosting Youngstown State for a 5 p.m. game from Calihan Hall. The Titans then welcome Cleveland State to town on Sunday, in a 1 p.m. contest. Friday's contest is the women's basketball alumni game/day, while the CSU game is Dollar Sunday with $1 Admission and $1 hot dogs and fountain pops for all fans.
Both games may also be seen live via ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN Applications.
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