The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out its current two-game roadswing at IUPUI on Sunday, February 10, facing the Jaguars in a 2:00 p.m. contest. Entering the game, Cleveland State stands at 10-13 overall this year and 7-5 in Horizon League play, while IUPUI is 14-9 on the year and 8-4 against league opponents.

 

Put the Vikings on a four-game winstreak for the first time this season…Keep Cleveland State perfect during the month of February…Mark a season split for the Vikings against IUPUI…Put the Vikings at 8-5 in #HLWBB play.

 

Sunday's game will be the 11th meeting between the two teams, with Cleveland State owning a slight 6-4 advantage in the all-time series. Although the Vikings hold the edge in the overall series, IUPUI enters Sunday's game having won three straight against Cleveland State. When playing at IUPUI, the series is tied 2-2.

 

During the first meeting between the two teams, IUPUI picked up a 75-50 victory in Cleveland, marking the first #HLWBB loss of the year for the Vikings. The Viking offense was led by Jade Ely and Mariah Miller who combined for 27 points, while Miller grabbed a team-high eight boards. 

 

 

The Vikings extended their current winstreak to three straight games, picking up a 74-48 victory at UIC. Three Vikings finished the game with double-figure points - including Mariah Miller with a game-high 25 - while three Vikings also finished with double-digit rebounds. As a team, the Vikings recorded 20 assists on 25 made field goals, and forced UIC into 20 turnovers. 

 

After posting its third straight win against UIC last time out, Cleveland State now stands at 7-5 in Horizon League play with four more weeks left of the regular season. The win against the Flames put the Vikings in sole possession of fifth place in the #HLWBB standings, while they are one of five teams to post seven or more wins in league play so far this season.

 

Entering Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Cleveland State continues to lead the Horizon League with 224 total steals on the year - one of just two teams to surpass the 200-steal mark so far this season. The Vikings have finished with 10+ steals in 10 of their first 12 league contests, including 12 against the Flames last time out. As a team, the Vikings are averaging 9.7 steals per game this season.

 

Last time out, the Vikings showcased their sixth starting lineup of the season, as Savanna Crockett, Rachel Slaney, Mariana Bautista, JaMiya Braxton, and Mariah Miller were on the court for tipoff. Due to injuries, the Vikings have had to mix up their starting five throughout the season, while Bautista earned her first collegiate start in the win at UIC. 

 

Junior Mariah Miller recorded her fourth 20-point game of the season against the Flames last time out, notching a career-high 25 points. Miller converted seven field goals and went 11-for-16 from the free throw line, marking her 19th straight double-digit scoring effort. So far this season, Miller has been Cleveland State's top offensive threat, ranking second among Horizon League players averaging 16.1 points per game as one of only two players averaging 16.0+ ppg.

 

Mariah Miller was also one of three Vikings to grab double-digit rebounds at UIC, recording 12 boards for her sixth double-digit rebounding game of the season. Isabelle Gradwell (12 rebounds) and Savanna Crockett (11) also recorded double-digit rebound performances, with Gradwell's marking a season-high for the freshman. As a team, the Vikings rank second among league teams averaging 40.4 rebounds per game, one of three teams to average 40.0+ boards per game this year. 

 

Last time out, Savanna Crockett recorded her team-leading ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds at UIC. Crockett, who leads the Horizon League in the category, is one of 50 players natonwide with 9+ double-doubles this year, and the only freshman to achieve the feat. For the season, Crockett is averaging 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, ranking 11th and second, respectively, among league players.

 

Last time out, Savanna Crockett finished with one blocked shot against UIC, recording at least one block for the 17th time this season. Crockett, who has a team-high 33 blocked shots on the year, ranks third among league players averaging 1.5 blocks per game. With at least six games left this year, Crockett is just eight blocks shy of tying a CSU freshman class record and earning a spot in the top-10 in the CSU single season record book.

 

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).

 

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 426-129, which includes a Division III National Title during the 2007-08 season at Howard Payne.

 

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.

 

The Vikings will return home for a two-game homestand next week, hosting Milwaukee (Friday, February 15) and Green Bay (Sunday, February 17).