GAME #9
Cleveland State vs. Ohio Christian
Saturday, December 18 | 2:00 p.m. | Wolstein Center
Live Stats | Live Video | CSU Game Notes
CLEVELAND STATE ROSTER | OHIO CHRISTIAN ROSTER
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will return to action this weekend, hosting Ohio Christian on Saturday, December 18. Saturday's game will be the first contest for the Vikings in 15 days, as they were last in action at Northern Kentucky on Friday, December 3. Cleveland State enters Saturday's contest standing at 8-0 on the season, while Ohio Christian is currently 4-4 overall this year.
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD…
Extend Cleveland State's season-opening win streak to seven straight games (excluding the two forfeit wins)…Mark the first win against Ohio Christian in program history…Extend Cleveland State's win streak inside the Wolstein Center to 13 straight games dating back to January 23 of last season.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/OHIO CHRISTIAN SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
SCOUTING THE TRAILBLAZERS
Ohio Christian enters Saturday's game standing at 4-4 on the season, most recently dropping a 101-62 decision at Indiana University East…Last time out, junior Rachel Gillum eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career, entering the weekend with 1,008 career points…The Trailblazers are under the direction of interim head coach Alyssa Strickland, who is in her first season at the helm…During a shortened 2020-21 season, Ohio Christian posted an 8-10 record.
NEW OPPONENT, SAME DATE
After having to cancel Saturday's orginally scheduled contest against Hofstra due to COVID-19 implications within the Hofstra program, the Vikings were able to secure a new opponent in Ohio Christian. Saturday's cancellation with Hofstra marked the fourth time this season that the Vikings had to cancel or postpone a game due to COVID-19 protocols.
LAST TIME OUT…
Cleveland State picked up its first road win of the 2021-22 campaign with a 63-52 victory at Northern Kentucky. With the win, the Vikings remained perfect in #HLWBB play. Cleveland State shot 40-percent on the game, with Destiny Leo notching a game-high 31 points. The Vikings grabbed nine steals and forced NKU into 20 turnovers, and held the slight edge in rebounding led by Barbara Zieniewska with 10 boards.
6-0 START TO THE 2021-22 CAMPAIGN
For just the second time in program history the Vikings are 6-0 to start the season (excluding the forfeit wins over IUPUI & Wright State), picking up wins against ETSU, St. Bonaventure, Quincy, UIC, LIU, and Northern Kentucky. The last time the Vikings were 6-0 to start the year was during the 1974-75 season when Cleveland State posted a 7-0 record to begin the year. Cleveland State is the only #HLWBB team to be undefeated this season.
…VIKINGS ONE OF EIGHT UNDEFEATED TEAMS
Entering Saturday's game, the Vikings are one of eight undefeated Division I teams left, and the only mid-major team to still be unbeaten on the year. In addition, Cleveland State has the fourth longest active win streak among Division I teams, winning nine straight games dating back to last season's WBI. The Vikings, who finished the 2020-21 season with three straight wins, have not dropped a contest since March 8, 2021.
HOME SWEET HOME
Saturday's game against Ohio Christian will mark the sixth of 16 scheduled home games for the Vikings this season, and the first since late November. During the 2021-22 campaign, Cleveland State will play six of its seven non-league games in the friendly confines of the Wolstein Center, including Saturday's matchup with the Trailblazers.
…VIKINGS EXTEND WOLSTEIN CENTER WIN STREAK
With their 87-65 victory over LIU late last month, the Vikings extended their win streak inside the Wolstein Center to 12 straight games. This run dates back to January 23 of last season, and includes wins over nine different teams. Over the last three seasons Cleveland State has combined for a 22-6 record when playing at home, including a perfect 8-0 mark against non-league opponents.
LEO NOTCHES CAREER-HIGH AT NKU
Last time out, sophomore Destiny Leo notched her fifth 20-point game of the season, finishing with a career-high 31 points at Northern Kentucky. Leo, who played all 40 minutes against the Norse, went 11-for-15 from the field, including a quartet of three-pointers. On the season, Leo has now posted two 30-point games - the only #HLWBB player to post multiple 30+ point efforts this year.
…NAMED #HLWBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For her efforts, Leo was named the #HLWBB Player of the Week on Monday, December 6, claiming the first weekly honor for the Vikings this season. This also marked the first Player of the Week accolade for Leo, and the second weekly honor of her Cleveland State career (#HLWBB Freshman of the Week, 2/1/21).
ZIENIEWSKA ON THE BOARDS
Last time out, senior Barbara Zieniewska notched her second straight double-digit rebounding performance, grabbing a team-high 10 boards at Northern Kentucky. Zieniewska, who leads the team and ranks third among #HLWBB players averaging 7.7 rebounds per game, has notched five or more rebounds in every game this season, including a career-high 12 boards against LIU.
CLEVELAND STATE AMONG THE LEAGUE'S BEST
Entering the weekend, Cleveland State leads the league in scoring (76.0 ppg), rebounding (43.5 rpg) and blocked shots (5.00 bpg), while ranking second in turnover margin (2.83), steals (9.83 spg) and field goal percentage (.414).
…INDIVIDUALS AMONG THE LEAGUE'S BEST
Individually, three Vikings rank in the top-five in statistical categories, led by Destiny Leo who is averaging a league-best 24.2 points per game and 3.5 three-pointers per game, while shooting 53-percent from the floor to rank second. Barbara Zieniewska ranks third in rebounding (7.7 rpg), while Nadia Dumas (2nd - 1.5 bpg) and Amele Ngwafang (4th - 1.2 bpg) both rank in the top-five in blocked shots.
HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings will be under the direction of fourth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier during the 2021-22 campaign, who owns a 51-40 record at Cleveland State and a 467-156 overall record in 21 seasons as a head coach. Kielsmeier, who joined the Vikings as the seventh head coach in program history prior to the 2018-19 season, notched his 450th career win last year in a 60-48 victory over Green Bay, becoming just the second active #HLWBB coach to reach the milestone.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will close out non-league play on Tuesday, December 21, hosting Loyola (Ill.) at 7:00 p.m.
