GAME #3
Cleveland State vs. Central Michigan
Saturday, November 18 | 2:00 p.m. | Wolstein Center
Live Stats | Live Video | CSU Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will open its home slate this weekend, hosting Central Michigan at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 18. Entering the contest, the Vikings stand at 1-1 on the young season, while Central Michigan is currently 1-2 on the year.
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD…
Give Cleveland State its first home win of the 2023-24 season…Put the Vikings at 16-1 when playing at home over the last two years…Give Chris Kielsmeier his 98th win at Cleveland State.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/CENTRAL MICHIGAN SERIES
Saturday's game will be just the eighth meeting between the two teams in program history, with Central Michigan holding a slight 4-3 edge in the all-time series. Cleveland State picked up an 86-55 victory in last year's meeting, while the Vikings' other two wins came during the 2000-01 and 2002-03 seasons.
SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan enters Saturday's game with a 1-2 record on the young season, picking up an 80-57 victory over Concordia last time out…2023-24 will mark the first season under head coach Kristin Haynie…Earlier this year, the Chippewas were selected to finish 11th in the MAC Preseason Poll…To open the year, CMU will play four of its first five games on the road, with Saturday's contest marking the third game during this stretch…CSU will be the first of three Horizon League opponents for the Chippewas.
HOME-SWEET-HOME
During the 2023-24 season the Vikings will play 16 of their 31 regular season games at home, with Saturday's contest marking the first of six non-league games in Cleveland. Under Chris Kielsmeier, the Vikings have combined for a 50-18 record when playing at home, including a 16-3 mark against non-league opponents.
2023 #HLWBB BANNER UNVEILING
Prior to Saturday's home opener against Central Michigan, Cleveland State will hold a pre-game banner unveiling, celebrating the 2023 #HLWBB Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament Appearance. The ceremony is slated to begin at 1:40 p.m.
LEO NOTCHES BACK-TO-BACK 30-POINT GAMES
Destiny Leo has started the 2023-24 campaign with back-to-back 30-point performances, finishing with 33 points at Bowling Green and Loyola. Following the first week of play, Leo leads all Division I scorers averaging 33.0 points per game,while she moved into eighth place on the CSU Scoring List with 1,499 career points. Among Horizon League players, Leo is the only player to average 30.0+ points per game, while she is one of just three to be averaging 20.0+ points per game.
…LEO FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Through the first two games of the year, Destiny Leo has been a perfect 24-for-24 from the free throw line, including an 18-for-18 performance at Loyola last time out which set the CSU Single Game Record for made free throws. Among Division I players, Leo is at the top of the standings with her 24 made free throws, with the next player converting 16. For her career, Leo is at the top of the CSU Career Record Book with a .909 free throw percentage (351-386), while she ranks sixth with her 351 career free throws.
MAPLES HELPING THE VIKING OFFENSE
In her first two games as a Viking, Colbi Maples has tallied a pair of double-digit scoring performances, opening the season with 27 points at Bowling Green and following that up with 10 points at Loyola. Through the first two games, Maples is averaging 18.5 points per game, while shooting 53-percent from the floor. Among Horizon League players, Maples ranks fifth with her 18.5 points per game after the first week of play.
HERNANDEZ HAS STRONG COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Last time out, freshman Paulina Hernandez appeared in her first collegiate game, finishing with four points, five rebounds and one blocked shot. Herenandez was one of six newcomers to make their CSU debuts during the opening week of the 2023-24 campaign.
THE NON-LEAGUE SLATE
Saturday's game will mark the third of an 11-game non-league slate for Cleveland State, and the first of six home games during this stretch. Four of Cleveland State's non-league opponents were postseason teams last season, including NCAA Runner-Up Iowa and WNIT Fab Four team Bowling Green.
CLEVELAND STATE TABBED SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL
Last month, Cleveland State was selected to finish second in the #HLWBB Preseason Poll, picking up 107 points. This marks the third time in program history that the Vikings were selected to finish second in the #HLWBB Preseason Poll, with the Vikings also tabbed in the top-two prior to the 2011-12 and 2009-10 seasons.
LEO REPEATS AS #HLWBB PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cleveland State senior Destiny Leo was honored by the Horizon League last month, earning her second straight nod as the #HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year. Leo, who is the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, is the only Viking in program history to earn the recognition more than once. Leo returns as Cleveland State's leading scorer from a season ago, as she averaged 17.9 points per game to lead all league players, while also leading the league and ranking seventh nationally with a .911 free throw percentage (164-180).
…AND NAMED TO PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Destiny Leo was also named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List earlier this season – one of 25 student-athletes named to the national preseason watch list. Leo, who is the first Cleveland State player to earn a spot on the list, enters her senior campaign at the top of the CSU Career Record Book in Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (.389) and Free Throw Percentage (.903), while ranking third with 214 Three-Point Field Goals and 11th with 1,433 Total Points.
HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings are under the direction of sixth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who owns a career head coaching record of 513-171. Through six seasons at Cleveland State, Kielsmeier has led the Vikings to a 97-55 overall record, including a trio of 20-win seasons. Last year, Kielsmeier guided the Vikings to their third #HLWBB Tournament Championship, while he led the Vikings to their first-ever postseason title in 2021 when Cleveland State captured the WBI championship.
…KIELSMEIER NAMED TO PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Chris Kielsmeier was named to the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Preseason Watch List last week - one of 20 coaches named to the inaugural watch list. Under Kielsmeier, the Vikings have advanced to the postseason in three straight years, and have tallied 20-win campaigns three times over the last four seasons.
A LOOK BACK AT 2022-23
Cleveland State combined for a program-best 30-5 record last season, marking the first 30-win campaign in program history and the third 20+ win season over the last four years. The Vikings captured the #HLWBB Tournament title for the third time in program history, and earned the program's highest seed in NCAA Tournament play. Cleveland State's trip to the NCAA Tournament marked the third straight postseason appearance.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will host the second annual Viking Invitational November 22-25, facing off against Austin Peay, Chicago State and UMKC. This year's tournament will be presented by Holiday Inn Express Downtown and will take place in Woodling Gymnasium - the home of Viking basketball from 1973-91.
