GAME #10
Cleveland State vs. Loyola (Ill.)
Tuesday, December 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Wolstein Center
Live Stats | Live Video | CSU Game Notes
CLEVELAND STATE ROSTER | LOYOLA ROSTER
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out non-league play this week, hosting Loyola (Ill.) on Tuesday, December 21. Tuesday's game is set for a 7:00 p.m. start at the Wolstein Center, with Cleveland State entering the game standing at 9-0 this year, while Loyola is currently 7-3 on the season.
A WIN ON TUESDAY WOULD…
Extend Cleveland State's season-opening win streak to eight straight games (excluding the two forfeit wins)…Keep the Vikings undefeated through non-league play this season…Extend Cleveland State's win streak inside the Wolstein Center to 14 straight games dating back to January 23 of last season.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/LOYOLA SERIES
Tuesday's game will mark the 41st meeting between the two teams in program history, with Cleveland State owning a 26-14 advantage in the all-time series. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams since the 2012-13 season, when the Vikings and Ramblers last met as Horizon League opponents. Loyola picked up wins in the last two meetings, with Cleveland State's last win against the Ramblers coming in a 67-65 decision during the 2011-12 campaign.
SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
Loyola enters Tuesday's contest standing at 7-3 overall this season, most recently winning back-to-back games against Central Michigan (69-48) and Eastern Illinois (58-48)…Tuesday's game marks the second game of a current four-game roadswing for the Ramblers, while it will mark their final non-league contest of the season…Earlier this season, Loyola was selected seventh in the MVC Preseason Poll…The Ramblers are under the direction of sixth-year head coach Kate Achter, and returned 11 letterwinners which accounted for 80-percent of Loyola's offense from last season.
LAST TIME OUT…
The Vikings returned to play with a 104-51 victory over Ohio Christian, with five Vikings finishing the game in double-figures. All nine Vikings that saw action against the Trailblazers recorded at least one point and one rebound, while eight of the nine Vikings posted at least one assist. As a team, the Vikings shot 51-percent from the floor, and converted a season-high 12 three-pointers.
7-0 START TO THE 2021-22 CAMPAIGN
For just the second time in program history the Vikings are 7-0 to start the season (excluding the forfeit wins over IUPUI & Wright State), picking up wins against ETSU, St. Bonaventure, Quincy, UIC, LIU, Northern Kentucky, and Ohio Christian. Cleveland State's 7-0 start ties the program record for best start to a season (1974-75; 7-0), while a win on Tuesday would set a new program record at 8-0. Cleveland State is the only #HLWBB team to be undefeated this season.
…VIKINGS ONE OF SEVEN UNDEFEATED TEAMS
Entering Tuesday's game, the Vikings are one of seven 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 10 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
Tuesday's game against Loyola will mark the seventh of 16 scheduled home games for the Vikings this season, and the last during the month of December. During the 2021-22 campaign, Cleveland State will play all of its non-league games in the friendly confines of the Wolstein Center, including Tuesday's matchup with the Ramblers.
…VIKINGS EXTEND WOLSTEIN CENTER WIN STREAK
With their 104-51 victory over Ohio Christian last time out, the Vikings extended their win streak inside the Wolstein Center to 13 straight games. This run dates back to January 23 of last season, and includes wins over 10 different teams. Over the last three seasons Cleveland State has combined for a 23-6 record when playing at home, including a perfect 9-0 mark against non-league opponents.
VIKINGS ECLIPSE THE CENTURY MARK
Cleveland State recorded the 13th 100-point game in program history last time out, finishing with 104 points against Ohio Christian. This marked the first time since the 2019-20 campaign that the Vikings have eclipsed the 100-point mark, while it puts the Vikings at 11-2 all-time when scoring 100+ points.
CLEVELAND STATE SPREADING OUT THE OFFENSE
The Vikings posted a program record-tying 31 assists against Ohio Christian last time out, marking the seventh time in program history that the Vikings have posted 30+ assists in a game. Cleveland State's 31 assists came on 42 made field goals, with eight of the nine Vikings that saw action against Ohio Christian recording at least one assist. Isabella Geraci posted a team-high seven, while Gabriella Smith and Brittni Moore both recorded five.
SMITH NOTCHES 20-POINT GAME
Through the first seven games played this season the Vikings have had at least one player record 20+ points in every game, as Gabriella Smith posted a team-high 23 points against Ohio Christian last time out. Smith went 10-for-20 from the field, including a trio of three-pointers, notching a season-high with her 23 points. For the year, Smith ranks second on the team averaging 12.0 points per game.
CLEVELAND STATE AMONG THE LEAGUE'S BEST
Entering the week, Cleveland State leads the league in scoring (80.0 ppg), rebounding (45.1 rpg), blocked shots (5.00 bpg), and turnover margin (4.29), while ranking second in steals (10.29 spg), assists (14.00 apg) and field goal percentage (.433).
…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 (3rd - 7.7 rpg) and Amele Ngwafang (4th - 7.6 rpg) rank in the top-five in rebounding, while Ngwafang (2nd - 1.6 bpg) and Dumas (5th - 1.3 bpg) both rank in the top-five in blocked shots.
GRADWELL & DUMAS CLOSING IN ON 100 GAMES PLAYED AT CSU
Redshirt-senior Nadia Dumas and senior Isabelle Gradwell are closing in on becoming the first active Vikings to play in 100 career games at Cleveland State, as Dumas notched her 90th appearance and Gradwell tallied her 92nd appearance last time out. Gradwell has played in every game during her collegiate career, while Dumas has taken the court in all but two games as a Viking.
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 52-40 record at Cleveland State and a 477-156 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 return to #HLWBB play, traveling to Robert Morris on Thursday, December 30 and Youngstown State on Saturday, January 1.
