SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will return to the Wolstein Center to begin a brief two-game homestand on Thursday, November 15, hosting Lake Erie College at 7:00 p.m. Entering Thursday's contest, the Vikings own a 1-2 record on the young season.

A WIN THURSDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings back on the winning track…Keep Cleveland State perfect in the Wolstein Center this season…Give the Vikings a 7-0 all-time record against Lake Erie.

THE CLEVELAND STATE/LAKE ERIE SERIES
Thursday's game will be the seventh meeting between the two teams, with Cleveland State owning a perfect 6-0 record in the series. The two teams last met during the 2016-17 campaign, with the Vikings earning a 65-42 victory. All six previous meetings have taken place in the Wolstein Center.

THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State returns six letterwinners from last season's squad, including the senior duo of Rachel Slaney and Mariana Bautista. This duo is joined by all-league honoree Jade Ely, Mariah Miller, Mariah White, and Anyia Pride to form a veteran core for the upcoming season.

This experienced group will be joined by five true freshmen - Shyla Latone, Savanna Crockett, Isabella Geraci, JaMiya Braxton, and Isabelle Gradwell - along with redshirt freshman Nadia Dumas and sophomore transfer Dana DeGraffenreid.

HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings will be under the direction of first-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier during the 2018-19 campaign, as he was named the seventh head coach in program history on April 17, 2018. Kielsmeier joined the Vikings following stints at Wayne State (NE) and Howard Payne, where he became the all-time winningest coach with both programs. Kielsmeier owns a career coaching record of 417-118, which includes a Division III National Title during the 2007-08 season at Howard Payne.

…VIKINGS OPEN KIELSMEIER ERA WITH VICTORY
Cleveland State opened up the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, November 6, cruising to a 113-81 victory over Salem. The win marked the first of the Chris Kielsmeier era, and marked the seventh time over the last 10 years that the Vikings were victorious in their season opener. Kielsmeier is the third Cleveland State head coach to win their first game on the Viking sideline, and the first since Louise Furjanic during the 1977-78 campaign.

VIKINGS @ THE WOLSTEIN CENTER
Over the last 15 home games - dating back to the beginning of last season - the Vikings own an 11-4 record when playing in the Wolstein Center. During the 2017-18 campaign, the Vikings recorded the sixth double-digit win season at home over the last 10 seasons, while they earned a 113-81 victory against Salem in this year's home opener. Cleveland State has 13 home games remaining this season, including Thursday's matchup against Lake Erie.

…DOUBLE THE FUN
During the 2018-19 season the Cleveland State men's and women's basketball teams will play two doubleheaders in the Wolstein Center, with both of them coming during non-league play. The women's opponents on doubleheader dates will be Toledo (Dec. 5) and Bradley (Dec. 19).

CROCKETT IN THE STARTING FIVE
Through the first three games of the season, freshman Savanna Crockett has earned a spot in the starting lineup during all three contests, and is averaging 31.0 minutes per game. For the year, Crockett is averaging 11.0 points per game - one of four Vikings averaging double-digit points - while she leads the team with 9.3 rebounds per contest.

…RECORDS FIRST COLLEGIATE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Last time out, Savanna Crockett recorded the first double-double of her collegiate career, posting 15 points and 14 rebounds at Ball State. Both marked career-highs for the freshman, while it was the second double-digit scoring game of the year for Crockett. She became the seventh Horizon League player to notch a double-double this season, and just the first freshman to do so.

VIKINGS ON THE BOARDS
So far this season the Vikings have held the advantage on the boards, outrebounding their opponent in all three games. Entering Thursday's contest, Cleveland State owns a +8.0 rebounding margin, and has grabbed 140 total boards. Among Horizon League teams, the Vikings rank second averaging 46.7 rebounds per game, while Savanna Crockett ranks fourth individually averaging 9.3 boards per contest. 

VIKINGS ECLIPSE CENTURY MARK
Cleveland State recorded just the 11th 100-point game in program history in the 2018-19 season opener, recording 113 total points against Salem. The 113 points marked the second highest single-game total, while it was also the first time since the 2013-14 season that the Vikings have scored 100 or more points. After Tuesday's win against Salem, Cleveland State is now 9-2 all-time when scoring 100+ points.

WHITE NOTCHES FIRST 20-POINT GAME
Against Eastern Michigan last week, Mariah White led the Viking offense with a career-high 23 points. The 23 points marked the first 20-point game of White's collegiate career, while it marked the second 20-point game for a Viking this season. White, who tallied 14 of her 23 points during the first half, went 7-for-11 from the floor and 9-for-12 from the free throw line. For the season, White is averaging 14.0 points per game.

MILLER HAS CAREER-HIGH NIGHT AGAINST SALEM
Junior Mariah Miller posted a career-high night against Salem in the season opener, finishing with 22 points and 17 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. Miller tallied career-highs in points and rebounds against the Tigers, with the 22 points marking the first 20-point game of her career. Miller went 9-for-12 from the floor in 27 minutes of action. After the first three games, Miller leads the Viking offense averaging 15.0 points per game.

CLEVELAND STATE TABBED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Last month the Vikings were tabbed to finish eighth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll - picking up 99 points. Last season, the Vikings finished sixth in the league standings. Defending champion Green Bay was selected as the preseason favorite by the league's 10 head coaches, sports information directors and media members, while IUPUI, Wright State, Youngstown State, and Milwaukee rounded out the top-five. Northern Kentucky and Oakland were selected sixth and seventh, respectively, while Detroit Mercy and UIC rounded out the poll.

2019 HORIZON LEAGUE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
New for the 2018-19 season, the Horizon League Tournament will feature only the top eight teams, with all eight teams beginning play with a quarterfinal matchup on March 5 or March 6. The quarterfinal winners will advance to the Motor City Madness semifinals, which will be held at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. on Monday, March 11. The championship game will also be held in Detroit, Mich., and will take place on Tuesday, March 12. Both the men's and women's semifinals and championship games will be held at Little Caesars Arena, and will run concurrently. All games will be carried on the ESPN network.

UP NEXT
The Vikings will close out their brief homestand on Monday, November 19, hosting Illinois State at 7:00 p.m.