GAME #18
Cleveland State vs. Northern Kentucky
Friday, January 18 | 11:00 a.m. | Wolstein Center
Live Stats | Live Video
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will return to the friendly confines of the Wolstein Center to continue Horizon League play this weekend, beginning with an 11:00 a.m. matchup against Northern Kentucky on Friday, January 18. Entering the annual Kids Day Game the Vikings stand at 6-11 overall this year and 3-3 in #HLWBB action, while NKU owns a 3-12 overall record and a 2-3 mark against league opponents.
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings back in the win column…Mark Cleveland State's second straight win at home…Give the Vikings five straight wins against Northern Kentucky…Put Cleveland State at 3-2 during Kids Day Games in the Wolstein Center.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/NORTHERN KENTUCKY SERIES
Friday's game will be the ninth meeting all-time between the two teams, with Cleveland State owning a 5-3 record in the series. The Vikings have won four straight against the Norse heading into Friday's matchup and own a 2-1 record when playing in the Wolstein Center.
SCOUTING THE NORSE
Northern Kentucky enters Friday's game with a 3-12 record on the season, including a 2-3 mark against Horizon League opponents…After winning just one game during non-league play, the Norse have now won two of their last five, picking up #HLWBB victories against UIC (67-49) and Milwaukee (55-54)…Earlier this season, NKU was picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League preseason poll, and is currently tied for sixth with Milwaukee…NKU's Ally Niece has been one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the Horizon League this season, posting a .395 field goal percentage from behind-the-arc to rank second in the league stats.
LAST TIME OUT…
The Vikings dropped a hard fought contest at Milwaukee, falling by a six-point deficit in a 59-53 contest. Rachel Slaney posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds against the Panthers, while Mariah Miller tallied a team-high 13 points and Savanna Crockett grabbed a team-best 11 boards. As a team, the Vikings held a 45-33 advantage in rebounding, while they grabbed 10 steals.
FRIDAY MARKS ANNUAL KIDS DAY GAME
Friday's contest against Northern Kentucky will serve as Cleveland State's annual Kids Day Game, with over 2,000 Cleveland area grade school kids in attendance. Prior to tipoff, the Cleveland State Athletic Department will provide multiple stations and activities for all kids in attendance to participate in which focus on promoting healthy living through sport and exercise.
SLANEY BACK ON TRACK
After struggling offensively through the first part of the Horizon League schedule, senior Rachel Slaney has gotten back on track over the last two games, combining for 19 total points against Green Bay and Milwaukee. Slaney, who averaged just 3.25 points per game in the first four #HLWBB contests, averaged 9.5 ppg during Cleveland State's roadswing through the state of Wisconsin. Slaney recorded all of her points on three-point field goals, along with a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the free throw line. The Barneveld, Wis. native also added 17 rebounds, four steals and three assists throughout the two games.
VIKINGS WITH THE STEAL
Entering Friday's game against Northern Kentucky the Vikings continue to lead the Horizon League with 161 total steals on the year, including 64 steals in the first six #HLWBB games of the year. The Vikings have finished with 10+ steals in five of their first six league contests, including 10 against Milwaukee last time out. As a team, the Vikings are averaging 9.5 steals per game this season.
MILLER ON THE OFFENSIVE END
Through 17 games this season, junior Mariah Miller leads the Vikings offensively, ranking second among league players averaging 15.8 points per game. Miller, who has recorded double-digit points in all but one game she has played in this year, recorded a pair of 20-point performances during non-league play, including a career-high 22-point effort against Salem in the season opener. Miller has been one of Cleveland State's most efficient shooters from the floor this season, ranking 10th among league players with a .471 field goal percentage (81-for-172).
#HLWBB FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS
So far this season, Savanna Crockett has been named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week four times, a mark that leads all league players. Crockett's four league weekly honors are the most for a Viking since the 2015-16 campaign when redshirt freshman Ashanti Abshaw picked up six #HLWBB Freshman of the Week accolades. Entering Friday's contest against Northern Kentucky, Crockett is the top freshman among league players in rebounding (1st overall - 9.8 rpg) and blocked shots (3rd - 1.3 bpg), and is the second rookie in scoring (15th - 10.6 ppg).
…CROCKETT ON THE BOARDS
So far this season, freshman Savanna Crockett has been Cleveland State's leading rebounder, averaging 9.8 boards per game to also lead the Horizon League in the category. Crockett has recorded nine double-digit rebound games this season, including a career-high 15 boards against UIC during Cleveland State's last homestand. For the season, Crockett has 166 total rebounds, ranking 29th nationally and second among freshmen.
WHITE IN THE STARTING LINEUP
After earning a spot in the starting lineup at the start of the 2018-19 campaign, sophomore Mariah White has made the most of her time on the court, averaging 11.6 points and a team-best 3.3 assists per game. White, who is one of the most efficient shooters on the team with a .451 field goal percentage, has improved her scoring by more than 10.0 points per game since last year. White is also averaging 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game so far this year.
CLEVELAND STATE TABBED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Earlier this season 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.
VIKINGS ON THE DEAN'S LIST
With the 2018 Fall Semester in the books, five Vikings earned a spot on the Cleveland State University Dean's List - Dana DeGraffenreid, Isabella Geraci, Isabelle Gradwell, Rachel Slaney, and Mariah White. This marks the first Dean's List honors for DeGraffenreid, Geraci, Gradwell, and Slaney, while White has earned a spot on the Dean's List every semester of her collegiate career (3).
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 422-127, which includes a Division III National Title during the 2007-08 season at Howard Payne.
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 two-game homestand against Wright State on Sunday, January 20, hosting the Raiders at 3:00 p.m. Sunday's tip time has been adjusted to accomodate inclement weather that has been forecasted for the Cleveland area.
