Rockets women's basketball team ranked 25th

Rockets crack AP poll for first time since Nov. 2001

The Blade
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UT coach Tricia Cullop has guided the Rockets to a 26-2 record and a Mid-American Conference regular-season championship.

The University of Toledo has cracked the Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll for the first time in 11 years.

The Rockets, who have won 14 in a row, landed at No. 25 Monday, one day after they secured the outright Mid-American Conference regular-season championship with a home win over Eastern Michigan.

Toledo (26-2, 14-1) received 64 votes, four more than Iowa State. Dayton, which dealt the Rockets one of their two defeats, is No. 11.

"I’m thrilled for our program because it gives us some credibility, but it really doesn’t change our approach to anything," Toledo coach Tricia Cullop said. "It’s a huge compliment, but our team’s still going to go about our business as we normally would. We’re thrilled to share this news with recruits and let them know that people believe we deserve this ranking."

The last time Toledo appeared in the Top 25 was the week of Nov. 19-25, 2001 when they stood at No. 24 after upsetting No. 4 Duke in the season opener.

The Rockets have appeared in the Top 25 three other times — to end the 1998-99 regular season, and twice in February of 1994.

The Rockets, who clinched the No. 1 seed in the MAC tournament, will wrap up the regular season Wednesday at home against Ball State. They will not play again until March 15 in the semifinals of the league tournament at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

Baylor remained No. 1 for a ninth straight week. The Bears cruised to wins over Oklahoma and West Virginia and received all 40 first-place votes for the second straight week.

Notre Dame is No. 2 followed by Connecticut, Stanford and California. Duke fell one spot to sixth. Kentucky, Penn State, Tennessee and Maryland round out the first 10.

FOREIGN COMMITMENT: Janice Monakana, a 6-foot forward from London, has committed to Toledo for the 2013 class. Monakana averages 17.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1 assist for the the club team, the Newham Stars, and 29 points for her high school team, the Haringey Angels.

She also plays on the England national team and averages 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Monakana, who is expected to sign a letter of intent next month, will join a class that includes three players who signed in the fall: Indiana guard Lindsay Baker, Wisconsin guard/forward Olivia Braun, and Illinois forward Sophie Reecher.

TICKET SALES: Tickets for the semifinal game of the MAC tournament will go on sale at the Savage Arena ticket office at 10 a.m. Thursday. Pre-orders for the tournament are being taken now for UT season-ticket holders and Rocket Fund donors.

Pre-ordered tickets can be reserved by calling 419-530-GOLD by Monday at 4 p.m. Pre–ordered tickets will be picked up at the UT will call table at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Tickets are all general admission. Ticket price is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 55 and over and youth 12-and-under.

UT students may purchase a ticket for $5 by showing their Rocket ID at the UT ticket office or at the UT will call table at Quicken Loans Arena. One ID per student, one ticket per ID.