Toledo to host Big Ten foe Illinois in Sweet 16 WNIT March 28

March 26, 2013 | Events, News, UToday
By Brian DeBenedictis



Toledo (29-3) will entertain Big Ten member Illinois (18-13) in the Sweet 16 of the WNIT Thursday, March 28, in Savage Arena. The opening tip is slated for 7 p.m.

Yolanda Richardson and the Rockets have been playing tremendous defense during the WNIT.

Yolanda Richardson and the Rockets have been playing tremendous defense during the WNIT.

The Rockets are in the midst of a nine-game home winning streak and sport a 15-1 (.938) mark in Savage Arena this season. In four-plus years under Head Coach Tricia Cullop, UT is 72-9 (.889) on its home court, including 35-6 (.854) against non-league opponents.

The 2012-13 Mid-American Conference Regular-Season Champions advanced to the third round for a third consecutive season with victories against Butler, 63-49, last Thursday and Youngstown State, 61-43, Saturday.

Sophomore Inma Zanoguera paced the 2011 WNIT Champions with a career-high 24 points against the Youngstown State, drilling a collegiate-tying best three triples.

The Fighting Illini qualified for Thursday’s contest by wins against MAC member Miami, 73-60, Thursday and Eastern Illinois, 62-54, Monday.

Illinois finished with a 9-7 mark in the Big Ten and features a high-powered attack with four players scoring in double digits led by first-team all-conference honoree Karisma Penn’s 19.0 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game, 2.2 blocks per game and 2.8 steals per game.

The Fighting Illini are 7-6 away from home this season and are making their eighth all-time appearance in the WNIT.

Toledo and Illinois will be meeting for the first time.

The winner of Thursday’s contest will take on the winner of MAC member Ball State and Kansas State. Sites and times for the Elite Eight round will be released at a later date. 



Tickets for Thursday’s game will go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $15 for reserved seats (all seats in the lower bowl) and $12 for general admission (all seats in the upper east sections). Tickets for children 12 and younger are $7.50 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission. UT faculty and staff may purchase two WNIT tickets at half price.

Elite season-ticket holders’ seat locations will be held until 8:30 a.m. Thursday. After that, those seats will go on sale to the general public.

UT students will be admitted free, courtesy of the UT President’s Office. UT students must show their Rocket ID at the gate to gain admittance.

UT students attending the game also will be eligible to win one of six great prizes to be given away throughout the game, courtesy of Cullop:

• $25 gift card to the Rocket shop (two winners);

• $50 cash (three winners); and

• Grand prize of a free iPad mini.

Tickets may be purchased at the UT Athletic Ticket Office in Savage Arena or by phone at 419.530.GOLD (4653). General admission tickets and reserved section 101 tickets may be purchased online, beginning at 10 am Tuesday at utrockets.com.

Parking for all WNIT games at Savage Arena is free and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, the Joe Grogan Room will be open to Rocket Fund donors.

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