INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Horizon League released its 2021-22 Women's Basketball Preseason Teams and Preseason Poll Tuesday afternoon, with Cleveland State sophomore Destiny Leo earning a spot on the Horizon League Preseason Second Team.
Leo, who is picking up preseason honors for the first time in her career, is the fourth Viking to earn a spot on a preseason team during head coach Chris Kielsmeier's tenure.
As the reigning Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year, Leo returns as Cleveland State's second leading scorer from a season ago, as she averaged 11.4 points per game during the 2020-21 campaign. Leo's 11.4 ppg ranked her 13th among league players, while she was tops in the #HLWBB standings with 51 total three-pointers made on the season.
As a freshman, Leo posted 15+ points during nine games, including a trio of 20-point efforts. In addition, Leo was one of Cleveland State's most efficient shooters, as she finished with a .410 field goal percentage (87-for-212) and a .392 three-point field goal percentage (51-for-130).
2021-22 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Rachel McLimore, IUPUI
Macee Willieams, IUPUI (Preseason Player of the Year)
Megan Walstad, MKE
Lindsey Duvall, NKU
Kahlaijah Dean, OAK
2021-22 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON SECOND TEAM
Destiny Leo, CSU
Meghan Pingel, GB
Ivy Turner, NKU
Sol Castro, RMU
Chelsea Olson, YSU
In the 2021-22 Horizon League Preseason Poll, the Vikings were selected to finish sixth, picking up 78 points in the competitive 12-team field. In addition to Leo, the Vikings return eight letterwinners from last season's team that captured the 2021 WBI Championship with three wins over a three-day span against Manhattan, Stetson and Portland.
Prior to their WBI appearance, the Vikings advanced to the #HLWBB Semifinals for the second straight year, picking up wins against UIC in the First Round and Green Bay in the Quarterfinals.
The Vikings will be under the direction of fourth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who owns a career record of 461-156, including a 45-40 record during his time at Cleveland State. Last year, Kielsmeier guided the Vikings to their first-ever postseason title, while it was the program's first postseason appearance in six years.
Both the preseason poll and preseason all-league teams were voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
2021-22 HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
1. IUPUI – 139 (11)
2. Milwaukee – 125
3. Green Bay – 120 (1)
4. Northern Kentucky – 107
5. Oakland – 96
6. Cleveland State – 78
T7. Wright State – 72
T7. Youngstown State – 72
9. RMU – 47
10. UIC – 38
11. Purdue Fort Wayne – 26
12. Detroit Mercy – 16
