Toledo preps for trip down I-75 to face Bowling Green State University

The University of Toledo women’s basketball team is looking for a little payback.

The Rockets (11-7, 4-3 MAC) are preparing to travel down I-75 to face rival Bowling Green State University on Saturday. Toledo fell to the Falcons 66-59 inside Savage Arena last Groundhog Day, UT’s 11th loss of the season.

“They beat us at home last year,” said junior guard Ana Capotosto. “This gives us a chance to stab them back. As far as the tradition and the rivalry, you have to buy into that coming here to Toledo and I believe I have.

“Regardless of that, this is a conference game, so we need this one.”

The Falcons (9-9, 2-5 MAC) have been hit by the injury bug this season. After starting off the campaign 7-3, BG has dropped six of their last eight games and are sitting fourth in the Mid-American Conference East Division, which is top heavy thanks to the presence of Ohio (15-3, 6-1 MAC) and Akron (15-3, 5-2 MAC).

“[Bowling Green is] a team that had to deal with a few injuries this year,” said UT head coach Tricia Cullop. “Now they are more of a perimeter team and were going to have to be better defending out there against them.”

Toledo is coming off a tough 75-61 loss against Eastern Michigan last Saturday. The Rockets have posted a 7-3 record in their last ten games, but have dropped three of their last five.

To get back on track, the Rockets will have to thump BGSU inside the hostile Stroh Center. The last time the Falcons hosted UT, the visitors came out on top with a 48-38 victory.

“It’s a tough court to play on,” Capotosto said. “They have a good team with a good crowd and they come at you. It will be fun.”

A win Saturday over BG would be Toledo’s second road victory of the season. UT is 1-4 when away from Savage Arena this year.

Speed has been an issue in the Rockets’ losses.

“We are going to have to fix things offensively not because of them but because we have been coming out slow lately,” said senior guard Inma Zanoguera. “We have been having a lot of turnovers, with most of them unforced, so we are going to have to polish that up. But the week of practice will be nice.”

BG will no doubt spend their practices preparing for Zanoguera, who is averaging 16.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 5.7 apg. For her part, the senior captain has plenty of experience with the Rockets’ rivals.

“It’s been four years now that I’ve been here,” Zanoguera said. “Bowling Green is always an exciting game to play and I think it will be good for us. It’s extra motivation, especially after a tough loss the other night.

“I am excited, but I don’t take it any different from any other games. It’s always nice to go into someone’s house and beat them, regardless of who they are.”

All of the Rockets understand this rivalry, as well as putting it in perspective.

“If I get too hyped I probably won’t play so well,” Capotosto said. “That’s the type of player I am. It does mean more because of the game, but at the same time you have to think that it’s just a game and try not to make the game bigger than it is.”

It may be just a game, but this game pits Toledo against Bowling Green, which always means something more to the fans.

“This is a fun rivalry,” Cullop said. “It produces one of, if not the best, attendances for a MAC game each season.

“It brings the best out of the two teams and the competition is always great.”

The Rockets will tip off against Bowling Green at 4 p.m. on Saturday.