Posted: Dec 07, 2019
GAME #9
Cleveland State @ East Tennessee State
Sunday, December 8 | 2:00 p.m. | Johnson City, Tenn.
Live Stats | Live Video
PDF CLEVELAND STATE GAME NOTES
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out the weekend on Sunday, December 8, continuing its four-game roadswing with a 2:00 p.m. contest at East Tennessee State. The Vikings enter the weekend with a 7-1 record on the year - and on a seven-game winstreak - while East Tennessee State stands at 3-6 on the season.
A WIN ON SUNDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings on an eight-game winstreak…Mark Cleveland State's first win over ETSU…Keep Cleveland State perfect during the month of December…Improve the Vikings to 8-1 on the year.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/EAST TENNESSEE STATE SERIES
Sunday's contest will be the first meeting between the two teams.
SCOUTING THE BUCS
East Tennessee State enters Sunday's contest with a 3-6 record on the season, most recently picking up a 67-60 victory against Wake Forest…The win over Wake Forest marked the Bucs' first win at home this season, as they stand at 1-4 when playing at Brooks Gym…Earlier this season, ETSU was selected to finish fourth in the Southern Conference Preseason poll…Three Bucs enter the weekend averaging double-digit points, led by Erica Haynes-Overton (22.8 ppg) who was named to the Southern Conference Preseason All-League team…Tijuana Kimbro enters the weekend ranked in the top-25 nationally with 19 total blocked shots.
LAST TIME OUT…
Cleveland State picked up its seventh straight win, posting a 68-61 victory at Western Carolina. Three Vikings finished the game in double-figure points, led by Mariah White with 24. As a team, Cleveland State tallied 13 total steals, including a team-high six from White. The Vikings shot 42-percent from the floor for the game, including a .643 clip during the first quarter.
...VIKINGS EXTEND WINSTREAK
Friday's 68-61 win against the Catamounts marked Cleveland State's seventh straight win, marking the longest winstreak for the Vikings since the 2012-13 campaign. The Vikings, who own the longest active winstreak among Horizon League teams, haven't lost a game since the season-opener at Bowling Green last month. Cleveland State's current seven-game winstreak is tied for third in the CSU Record Book, with the 1982-83 team owning a program record nine-game winstreak.
...AND OFF TO BEST START SINCE 1974-75
Cleveland State's 7-1 start to the 2019-20 campaign ties the best start in program history, and marks the first time since the 1974-75 season that the Vikings have picked up seven wins out of their first eight games. Cleveland State's seven non-league wins also marks the fifth time over the last 19 seasons that the Vikings have won seven or more games during their non-league slate.
ROAD WARRIORS
During the 2019-20 season the Vikings will play eight of their first 11 games away from the friendly confines of the Wolstein Center - the only Horizon League team to play eight or more true road games during the non-league portion of their schedule. During this stretch the Vikings will travel to six different states and will cover over 5,200 miles throughout the first two months of the season. Cleveland State's eight road games during the non-league slate marks the highest total for the Vikings since the 2000-01 campaign.
CROCKETT RETURNS TO THE LINEUP
After missing the last three games due to injury, sophomore Savanna Crockett returned to the lineup at Western Carolina, finishing with four points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. Crockett, who was named to the Horizon League Preseason Team, now has 55 career blocked shots and is just nine blocks shy of earning a spot in the top-10 in the CSU Career Record Book in the category.
WHITE HAS SEASON-BEST PERFORMANCE AT WCU
Last time out, Mariah White had one of her most complete performances of the season, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and five assists at Western Carolina. White's 24 points marked the first 20-point game of the season for the junior, as she shot 64-percent from the floor (9-for-14). White has now recorded six+ steals in two games this season, while it was the fourth time she has recorded five or more assists.
VIKINGS WITH THE TAKEAWAY
After six weeks of the 2019-20 campaign, Cleveland State is averaging 11.5 steals per game, a mark that ranks the Vikings 28th nationally. Earlier this season, the Vikings grabbed 21 steals against Davis & Elkins, and followed that up with 18 steals at LIU, with both marks ranking at the top of the #HLWBB standings. Among Horizon League teams, Cleveland State is the only team to have 90+ steals already this season, entering Sunday's game at ETSU with 92 total takeaways.
…WHITE RECORDS 100th CAREER STEAL
Earlier this week, junior Mariah White recorded the 100th steal of her career at Delaware State, and enters Sunday's game with 106 total takeaways after recording six steals at Western Carolina last time out. This season, White is averaging 3.8 steals per game - ranking fifth nationally - while she has 31 total steals on the year. White is the only active Viking to reach 100 steals on their career, including a career-high 65 takeaways as a sophomore last year.
MILLER LEADING THE VIKING OFFENSE
So far this season, senior Mariah Miller has been Cleveland State's top offensive threat, entering Sunday's game at ETSU averaging 22.4 points per game. Miller, who has posted 20+ points five times already this season, ranks fifth nationally in scoring, and is the only #HLWBB player with five or more 20-point games through the first six weeks. Miller is also one of the most efficient shooters for the Vikings, owning a .508 clip after the first eight games of the season.
HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings are under the direction of second-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier during the 2019-20 campaign, who owns a 17-21 record at Cleveland State and a 433-137 overall record in 20 seasons as a head coach. Kielsmeier, who joined the Vikings as the seventh head coach in program history prior to last season, also had stops at Wayne Sate (NE) and Howard Payne, becoming the all-time winningest coach at both schools. During his time at Howard Payne, Kielsmeier led the program to a Division III National Title.
VIKINGS ECLIPSE CENTURY MARK
Cleveland State recorded the 12th 100-point game in program history earlier this season, finishing with 110 points against Davis & Elkins in the 2019-20 home opener. The 110 points marked the fourth highest single-game total, while it was also the second straight season that the Vikings have scored 100 or more points in their home opener (113 vs. Salem last year). Cleveland State is now 10-2 all-time when scoring 100+ points.
…AND SET PROGRAM RECORD
The Vikings posted a program record 31 assists against Davis & Elkins in the home opener last month, breaking the 30-assist plateau for the sixth time in program history. Cleveland State's 31 assists came on 39 made field goals, and included eight from freshman Julia Hintz and seven from sophomore Savanna Crockett. Hintz and Crockett were two of eight Vikings to record at least one assist on the game.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will close out its current four-game roadswing next Sunday (December 15), traveling to Omaha for a 4:00 p.m. EST contest.
