CLEVELAND — For the second consecutive season, Toledo and Buffalo will play in the Mid-American Conference women’s basketball tournament.

The Rockets hope this year’s game isn’t as close as last season — as long as UT is the winner.

Quarterfinals vs Western Michigan #TeamToledo | #GoldStandard pic.twitter.com/HWxZbvB4Ry

— Toledo Women's Basketball (@ToledoWBB) March 13, 2024

Having spent several nights in Cleveland, and with one game under its belt, UT is primed to start fast and continue its streak of double-digit wins. However, as they found out against Western Michigan, desperate teams don’t just roll over. Buffalo will have nothing to lose and it has an offense that can be downright scary.

Defense will carry the day on Friday.

BASICS

■ Who: No. 1 seed Toledo (26-4) vs. No. 4 seed Buffalo (18-12)

■ Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland

■ When: Friday, March 15, 10 a.m.

■ Streaming: ESPN Plus

■ Radio: WSPD 1370 AM

■ Follow: Kyle Rowland

PROJECTED STARTERS

■ Toledo: Quinesha Lockett (15.8 ppg), Sophia Wiard (14.8 ppg), Sammi Mikonowicz (8.3 ppg), Khera Goss (8.1 ppg), Nan Garcia (6.1 ppg).

■ Buffalo: Chellia Watson (22.7 pg), Lewis-Williams (12.0 ppg), Rana Elhusseini (9.2 ppg), Kirsten Alexis Davis (8.0 ppg), Kiara Johnson (2.3 ppg)

SCOUTING REPORT

Chellia Watson is a problem for any team. She’s the nation’s sixth-leading scorer and already torched the Rockets once this season. Kirsten Lewis-Williams is the only other Buffalo player who averages in double-figures (12.7 points). But three more score at least seven points per game.

The Bulls were a combined 0-5 against Toledo, Ball State, and Kent State. Four of the five margins were single digits, though.

PREDICTION

A case can be made that Buffalo is the MAC tournament dark horse. Toledo and Ball State (Kent Staet to an extent) are the obvious contenders. Buffalo is on the outside looking in, but not too far, especially because of Watson. And that’s exactly why Toledo is ready.

The Bulls will not sneak up on the Rockets because of last year’s close call and January’s meeting in Savage Arena when Watson scored a venue-record 47 points. Wednesday’s result is another reason why UT should be focused from the opening tipoff until the final buzzer. Toledo 76, Buffalo 63.

First Published March 15, 2024, 11:30 a.m.