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The Toledo women's basketball team's seven-game win streak came to an end after a 81-72 loss to Bowling Green in the Battle of I-75 at the Stroh Center on Feb. 22. The Falcons (15-11, 8-6 MAC) pulled ahead in the first quarter 25-14, with the Rockets (19-6, 10-4 MAC) never quite able to get the lead. Toledo entered the fourth quarter down 62-52. They were within one possession twice in the final ten minutes, but they ultimately could not catch up to the Falcons. Graduate student Nan Garcia led the Rockets with 18 points, her season-high, and seven rebounds, five of which were offensive. Sophomore Kendall Carruthers and freshman Faith Fedd-Robinson joined Garcia in the double-digit points, with Carruthers at 16 points and Fedd-Robinson at 14 points. Both had three rebounds. The Rockets' bench got 42 points, the most this season during conference play. Bowling Green's Amy Velasco had a game-high 30 points, going 9-of-15 field goals, 3-of-4 behind the arc, and 9-of-9 free throws. With Northern Illinois' loss against Eastern Michigan, Toledo has secured a spot in the 2025 MAC Tournament, which will take place at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio from March 12 to 15.

University of Toledo Interim President Matt Schroeder attended the student government (UTSG) meeting and took questions from students on Tuesday, Feb. 25 as higher education faces major changes. Schroeder took questions for about an hour. Ohio Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) was a leading topic at the meeting. The bill would prohibit faculty strikes, regulate what universities and professors can say about topics the state considers controversial, and abolish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in higher education, among other things. The bill passed through the Ohio Senate after over 800 testimonies in opposition and 14 in support, and now is in the Ohio House Committee for Workforce and Higher Education. Read more about the bill and track its progress here . Students expressed their dissatisfaction with UT for not having released a statement regarding the possible changes to the University if SB 1 passes. Questions were raised about why UT has remained silent about the possible elimination of DEI in particular. “What statement would you like us to make?” Schroeder asked. The student responded by naming the schools in Ohio that have released a statement. “I’m here tonight, I support you," Schroeder responded. "If I need to put that in writing, I’ll put that in writing. I would find it interesting if you could show me a President who is showing up at a student meeting about this topic at all.” Schroeder indicated that the University is waiting until there is more information about the possible changes before releasing a statement. Another issue students brought to Schroeder came after Toledo men’s basketball hosted Bowling Green on national TV in the Battle of I-75 rivalry. What took place off the court was a hot topic on social media after the game. Members of the Black Student Union (BSU) used their Rowdy Row screen time to hold up signs that said, “we will be heard,” “our voice IS power,” and “inclusion over exclusion,” among other things. Schroeder said he did not notice the signs at the game, but after the meeting, told The Collegian that he is proud of the students for protesting in a peaceful manner. The University of Toledo official Instagram posted pictures of those students holding signs with the logo and name of Dave's Hot Chicken, one of UToledo's preferred business partners. Many comments criticized UToledo for selecting photos of BSU holding the sponsored signs rather than the protest signs. "They held up signs about inclusion," one comment said, "which is what all UT’s emails say: that we are an INCLUSIVE university. Let’s show it!" “The blatant disrespect towards black students is disgusting. Students have the right to speak their minds,” another reply read. “Question to this group,” Schroeder said, referring to the students that brought the issue to his attention at the meeting. “I know people take heat when they pull stuff down, so I’m going to follow up, are we good with the University taking that post down?” Students nodded in agreement. As of March 10, the posts have not been deleted off Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. “Whatever the future looks like, we have to create a safe and welcoming campus, and if someone doesn’t feel safe, it is on administration to figure out why and address it,” Schroeder said. At the end of the meeting, Schroeder said he is happy to attend future UTSG meetings.

For the second-straight season, the Battle of I-75 has split their season series with each team winning one game. The Toledo men's basketball team fell to arch-rival Bowling Green 68-69 on Feb. 21 in front of a season-high crowd of 6,837 people in Savage Arena. Sophomore Sam Lewis led the Rockets (16-11, 9-5 MAC) with 21 points. Sophomores Sonny Wilson and Javan Simmons joined Lewis in the double digits with 13 and ten points, respectively. Graduate student Isaiah Adams had a team-high seven assists. Sophomore Bryce Ford totaled 11 rebounds, nine defensively. Simmons added six rebounds to the Rockets' efforts. Senior André Lorentsson had a game-high two steals. Toledo entered the locker room down 37-41. The final 20 minutes saw ten lead changes, but the Rockets never led by more than a point the entire game. Javonte Campbell led the Falcons (11-16, 5-9 MAC) with 21 points and had the game-winning layup with 1.7 seconds left in regulation.

The Toledo women’s basketball team defeated Akron 75-54 at Savage Arena on Feb. 15, extending their winning streak to six. The victory marked the program’s eighteenth annual Rockets for the Cure game in front of a crowd of 5,227 fans. Toledo wore pink jerseys, which are available for auction at https://qtego.us/qlink/rocketsforthecure through Feb. 17 at noon. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio and the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center. Since 2010, Rockets for the Cure has raised over $180,000 for the cause. In celebration of 50 years of the program, the Rockets honored the women’s basketball alumni with recognition at halftime. Additionally, former Rocket Sophia Wiard was recognized for her achievement as the MAC Player of the Year for the 2023-2024 season, becoming the seventh Rocket to earn this honor. “It’s good to see familiar faces in the stands,” said graduate student Sammi Mikonowicz. “Especially playing with her [Wiard] for so long. But I think it is great to have all the alumni back. They laid the foundation, and now for us to carry that means everything.” Four Rockets scored in the double digits, led by graduate students Mikonowicz and Khera Goss, each scoring 16 points. Graduate Student Nan Garcia scored 13 points, while sophomore Kendall Carruthers added 10. Sophomore Cadence Dykstra and freshman Destiny Robinson had four assists each. Defensively, Carruthers and freshman Faith Fedd-Robinson led the Rockets with six rebounds each, joined by Mikonowicz and freshman Evalyse Cole with five each. Goss, Mikonowicz, and Carruthers each had two steals—part of 17 turnovers for Akron. The Zips (9-16, 3-9 MAC) took an early 6-0 lead at 6:05 left in the first quarter. The Rockets (18-5, 9-3 MAC) pulled ahead 21-18 after a 9-2 run with 5:55 left in the half. The teams went back-and-forth, heading into the locker room tied at 27 points. With 7:14 left in the third quarter, the Rockets took the lead for good after Carruthers’ layup. The Rockets out-scored the Zips 28-18 in the third quarter and 20-9 in the fourth. Toledo shot 61.6% (16-of-26) from the field in the second half, while shooting 83.3% (5-of-6) from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight," said Head Coach Ginny Boggess. “Akron is a really well-coached team. I'm really proud of our effort in the second half and our response. We knew they were going to make it hard, and they definitely did.” Toledo will face MAC leader Ball State at Savage Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.

Photos courtesy of the Office of Multicultural Student Success UToledo organizations are continuing with a packed itinerary for Black History Month, despite ongoing efforts by the federal and state government to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public and private entities alike. The University eliminated its Office of DEI over the summer of 2024. President Trump, in a sudden turn from his staunch anti-DEI executive orders and policies, followed presidential tradition by recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month, and called upon "all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities." A sampling of the programming is listed below in chronological order. For the full list, more information, and to RSVP on Invonet, please click here . Barbershop Talk is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10 in the Ingman Room, and provides an opportunity to get a free haircut from local barbers. Cultural Cuisine: Soul Food Edition is in The Eatery on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to The Eatery's close at 2:30 p.m. Along with enjoying a soul food-inspired menu, participants can enter a raffle for prizes. Campus Activities and Programming is hosting a Black History Month Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in SU 2584. Attendees can enjoy music, food, and games in honor and celebration of Black culture and history. The Black Issues Conference, hosted by Bowling Green State University, is on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, 1001 E Wooster St., Bowling Green, Ohio. Transportation is available; please contact the Office of Multicultural Student Success (OMSS) at omss@utoledo.edu or by calling 419-530-2261. The Black Caucus, hosted by UToledo's Black Student Union (BSU), is on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the SU Auditorium. The event provides an opportunity for Black community members and allies to share experiences and "strategize for the future," according to Invonet. BSU's 55th annual fashion show is on Friday, Feb. 28 from 8 to 10 p.m. in the SU Auditorium. BSU will be awarding a scholarship at intermission, and recipients are required to attend to be recognized. Applications are due on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 11:59 p.m. The essay prompt and submission details are available on BSU's Instagram, @utoledobsu .

Photos by William Heard The Toledo women’s basketball team defeated the Miami RedHawks 64-59 at Savage Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Graduate student Sammi Mikonowicz scored 17 points, going 5-of-8 from the field, 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. She totaled six rebounds for the night, giving her 1,004 for her career to become the second player in program history to reach the 1,000-rebound milestone. Mikonowicz joins Angela Drake (1993-97) who grabbed 1,087 rebounds during her career as a Rocket. Entering the locker room, the Rockets (14-5, 6-3 MAC) had a 36-25 advantage over the RedHawks (11-8, 4-5 MAC). In the fourth quarter, Miami fought back to take the lead in what became a back-and-forth battle. The final 3:54, Toledo scored seven of the last nine points in the game. Sophomore Kendall Carruthers and freshman Destiny Robinson joined Mikonowicz in scoring the double digits. Carruthers also had 17 points for the night, including eight in the final quarter. Carruthers went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, 4-of-9 from the field, and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Robinson added 11 points, going 3-for-4 beyond the arch, 6-for-11 from inside the paint, and 2-for-2 on free throws. Graduate student Nan Garcia led the Rockets with five assists for the night. Graduate students Jessica Cook and Khera Goss joined Mikonowiz as team leaders, each grabbing six rebounds. Defensively, Carruthers led the Rockets with two steals and freshman Faith Feed-Robinson blocked two of the RedHawks shots. The Rockets hit the road for a three game trip on the road. The Rockets will return to Savage Arena to play Akron on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.

Quinyon Mitchell vs San Jose State (left) and Kareem Hunt vs Appalacian State(right) during their time as Rockets. Photos Courtesy of The University of Toledo The Super Bowl returns to New Orleans for the first time since 2013 on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Caesars Superdome, home of the Saints. The Rockets have alumni on both teams this year: Kareem Hunt with the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) and Quinyon Mitchell with the Philadelphia Eagles (17-3). Toledo alum linebacker Dallas Gant is on the Eagles' practice squad. Hunt was drafted to Kansas City in 2017. After two seasons with the Chiefs, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he played five seasons before returning to the Chiefs for the 2024 season. In the 2024 regular season, Hunt totaled 200 carries for 728 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. In the postseason, he added two rushing touchdowns. Mitchell was drafted to Philadelphia as the number 22 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the first Rocket to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 31 years, after Dan Williams in 1993. As a rookie cornerback this season, he had 46 tackles, 37 of which were solo. He has had his first two interceptions of his professional career in the postseason, the first against the Green Bay Packers in the Wildcard Round on Jan. 12, and the second against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship on Jan. 26. The game will be nationally broadcasted on Fox. The game can also be streamed on Fubo, Tubi, NFL+, and Hulu with Live TV.

The Toledo Rockets started the season with three back-to-back wins, two of which were at home, one of which was in front of a packed house. According to UT Athletics, 25,515 fans filled the Glass Bowl for the season home opener, the largest in the stadium since Sept. 28, 2019, when Toledo played Brigham Young University in front of 24,889 fans. During the home opener on Aug. 29, the Rockets defeated the Duquesne Dukes 49-10. Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason completed 15 of 23 passes for a total of 205 yards and three first-half touchdowns. Six different Rockets found the end zone that day, with a pair of rushing touchdowns – one by senior running back Jacquez Stuart and the other by junior running back Willie Shaw III. Freshman wide receiver Zy’marion Lang, senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton, senior tight end Anthony Torres, and junior wide receiver Junior Vandeross III all snagged passes for touchdowns. Toledo’s defense held Duquesne a total of 282 yards and forced three turnovers. Sophomore safety Braden Awls led the defense with a career-high nine tackles, a sack, and an interception. The Rockets went on to defeat the University of Massachusetts Minutemen 38-23 on Sept. 7 in a hard-fought matchup in front of 21,668 fans at the Glass Bowl. Gleason connected with Newton for a 40-yard touchdown, scoring the first points of the game. During the game Newton continued to add to his career total of receiving yards, and surpassed 2,032, which makes him the fourteenth Rocket to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a career. With 2:44 left in the first half, a 98- yard kickoff return by Stuart to gave Toledo a narrow 17-13 lead going into the locker room. In the second half, Vandeross caught Gleason’s pass over the middle and bolted to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown, increasing Toledo’s lead to 24-16. Toledo’s defense came through with a solid performance for the second week in a row, breaking up six passes and sacking UMass’ quarterback Taisun Phommachanh five times. With 4:23 left in the third quarter, Phommachanh’s pass was intercepted by Awls at Toledo’s 27-yard line. The Rockets took their winning way on the road the following week and notched a 41-17 blowout victory at Mississippi State on Sept. 14. The victory was Toledo’s first win against a “Power Four” opponent in nine years and its second ever versus an SEC opponent. The last Rocket victory over an SEC opponent was a 16 to 12 victory over No. 18 Arkansas in 2015. Toledo was never seriously challenged during the game. The Rockets took the Bulldogs for a walk, never relinquishing the lead through all four quarters. The Rockets held a 7-0 first-quarter lead and upped the margin to 28-3 by halftime. The Rockets led 35-10 headed into the fourth quarter. Gleason had perhaps his best overall game as a collegiate athlete; he connected on 23-of-28 passes for 285 yards and three TDs. Gleason was recognized among the Manning Award Stars of the Week and the Davey O’Brien Foundation’s “Great 8” on Sept. 16 following Toledo’s victory at Mississippi State. The game marked Gleason’s third consecutive performance of three passing touchdowns. With his weekly selection, Gleason has been added to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List. The following week, on Sept. 21, the Rockets fell 26-21 to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Rockets took a 21-20 lead in the third quarter before lightning paused the game for 75 minutes. After the delay, a safety and two rushing touchdowns by WKU quarterback Caden Veltkamp in the span of 10:23 gave the Hilltoppers the lead with 5:16 left in the game. The Rockets were unable to score, despite getting within the 10-yard line on two different drives. The following week, Newton was named to the watch list for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year. This award honors one college football student-athlete who demonstrates a record of leadership through exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship, both on and off the field. Twenty semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will be announced on Oct. 22. The Rockets return to the Glass Bowl Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the conference opener against Miami University for the Homecoming Game. Students get free entry to all athletic events with their Rocket Card.

With a pair of wins against Northern Illinois, the Toledo women’s volleyball team moves to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in MAC play. The Rockets started the season off strong, with three wins at the Binghamton Bearcat Classic in Vestal, N.Y. at the end of August. Toledo beat Bucknell 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23) and swept Binghamton 3-0 the first day (25-18, 25-12, 25-22). On the second day of play, the Rockets beat Merrimack 3-1 (25-11, 24-26, 25-20, 25-20) to start their season off on a three-win streak. In early September, the Cyclone Invitational in Ames, Iowa was a heavy loss for the Rockets, who fell in three matches. They lost to Iowa State 0-3 (20-25, 26-28, 17-25) in the first match of the invitational on Sep. 5, then to Illinois 0-3 the next day (9-25, 19-25, 18-25). On Sep. 7, the last day of play, the Rockets battled Wake Forest, but ultimately lost 2-3 (25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16, 15- 10). Upon their return to Savage Arena to host the Rocket Invitational Sep. 13 and 14, the women shook off the bad mojo of the Iowa tournament and returned to their winning ways. On the first day of play, the Rockets got a pair of four-set victories over Eastern Washington and Northern Kentucky in their first home games of the 2024 season. The Rockets beat EWU (25-15, 25-18, 19-25, 25-21) and NKU (24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18). On the second day of play, the Rockets swept Marshall 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-21). To finish off the last of their non-conference games, the Rockets went 1-2 at the Jackrabbit Invitational Sept. 19-21 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Rockets swept Belmont in three sets (25-15, 25-22, 15-19) to open the invitational. In a hard fought five sets on the second day of play, Toledo lost to South Dakota State 2-3 (22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 31-29, 13-15). On the final day of play, the Rockets fell to Idaho State 1-3 (20-25, 25-21, 23- 25, 18-25) despite three Rockets recording double digit kills. In the conference home opener Sept. 27, the Rockets swept Northern Illinois in three sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-18). Toledo was led by fifth-year senior outside hitter Taylor Alt, who tallied 18 kills, four digs, and an ace. Junior outside hitter Izzy Granger totaled 11 kills and 12 digs, also tying her season high with four service aces. Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich totaled 35 assists, averaging 11.7 per set. The Rockets crushed Northen Illinois in three sets (25-18, 25-23, 25-19) on Sept. 28 in Savage Arena. Toledo was led by Granger with 14 kills and 11 digs, her second consecutive double-double and fifth of the season, and an ace. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kayla Ozanich had a team-best five blocks, including two solo blocks while also adding seven kills. Alt added seven kills, an ace, and a team high of 14 digs. Hatkevich totaled 34 assists, as well as eight digs, two blocks, and a kill of her own. During the Rockets Invitational, Taylor Alt eclipsed 1,000 career digs, while Macy Hatkevich eclipsed 1,000 Career assists at the Jackrabbit Invitational.

The Toledo Rockets brought home a 30-20 victory over the defending MAC champion Miami in the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 5. Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason threw for 318 yards total, including two touchdowns, and freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan made three field goals. Toledo scored on their opening drive after redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryson Hammer completed a 32-yard punt return to the Miami 37-yard line. Gleason picked up his own fumble on fourth-and-one and dove into the end zone for the touchdown. The Rocket’s second touchdown was set up by a blocked punt by junior cornerback Avery Smith on the Miami 18-yard line. Toledo scored three plays later on a six-yard pass touchdown from Gleason to senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton, giving the Rockets a 14-0 lead with 5:56 left in the first quarter. The second quarter cemented Toledo’s lead, starting with a 21-yard field goal by Cunanan, which brought the lead to 17-3. Moments later, Miami made a 35-yard field goal, bringing the score to 17-6. Cunanan replied with a season-best 48-yard field goal with only three seconds remaining in the first half, giving Toledo a 20-6 lead heading into the locker room. Cunanan made a 47-yard field goal on Toledo’s first drive of the second half to extend Toledo’s lead to 23-6. Gleason found senior tight end Anthony Torres for a one-yard touchdown toss on third-and-goal, restoring the Rocket’s three score lead at 30-13. Miami reached the Toledo 10-yard line before sophomore safety Braden Awls secured an interception to seal the game. “I’m really proud of our football team,” said Head Coach Jason Candle, citing defense’s performance in key moments, offense’s use of efficient plays to build an early lead, and “outstanding play” from kicker Cunanan as reasons for the team’s success. “I’m proud of our guys for playing all 60 minutes and hanging in there, keeping all ten toes down for the entire game, all to beat a good team,” said Candle. The Rockets travel to Buffalo next Saturday for a noon kickoff vs. The Bulls.