GAME #18
Cleveland State vs. Northern Kentucky
Saturday, February 5 | 2:00 p.m. | Wolstein Center
Live Stats | Live Video | CSU Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will open the month of February with a four-game homestand, beginning with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Northern Kentucky on Saturday, February 5. Entering the weekend, Cleveland State currently stands at 13-4 overall this season and 8-3 against league opponents, while Northern Kentucky stands at 16-4 overall and 10-3 in league play.
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings back in the win column…Give the Vikings the season sweep over Northern Kentucky…Mark Cleveland State's second straight win at the Wolstein Center and improve the Vikings to 8-1 when playing at home this season.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/NORTHERN KENTUCKY SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 14th meeting between the two teams, with Cleveland State holding a 9-4 edge in the all-time series. Earlier this year, the Vikings picked up a 63-52 victory at NKU, and have won three straight against the Norse entering Saturday's matchup.
SCOUTING THE NORSE
Northern Kentucky enters Saturday's game with a 16-4 overall record and a 10-3 mark against Horizon League opponents…NKU has won two straight entering Saturday's contest, and 12 of its last 13 games…Most recently, the Norse picked up a 67-43 victory at Purdue Fort Wayne…Saturday's game will be the final game of a three-game roadswing for the Norse…Northern Kentucky currently sits third in the #HLWBB standings and is one of three teams to reach double-digit league wins so far this season.
LAST TIME OUT…
Cleveland State split it's final roadtrip of January, picking up a 54-45 victory at UIC, before falling at IUPUI. The Vikings secured the season sweep over the Flames with their win on Thursday evening, while Cleveland State and IUPUI split the season series after IUPUI was forced to forfeit the first game between the two teams earlier this season.
#HLWBB SCHEDULE UPDATE
Due to the poor weather conditions throughout the state of Ohio earlier this week, the Cleveland State vs. Wright State game originally scheduled for Thursday, February 3 was postponed until Monday, February 7 with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m.
HOME-SWEET-HOME
Cleveland State will close out the regular season spending most of its time in the friendly confines of the Wolstein Center, as Saturday's game against Northern Kentucky is the first of six scheduled home games during the month of February for the Vikings. So far this year, the Vikings own an 8-1 record when playing at home, including a perfect 5-0 record during November (excluding the forfeit win over IUPUI).
LEO LEADING THE VIKING OFFENSE
Throughout the first 14 games played of the 2021-22 campaign, sophomore Destiny Leo is averaging a league-best 20.0 points per game after notching 10+ points in all 14 games. Leo has notched 20 or more points seven times so far this season, including a pair of 30-point performances. In addition, Leo is one of Cleveland State's most efficient shooters, as she owns a .483 clip from the field, including a .405 clip from behind-the-arc so far this season.
DUMAS CLOSING IN ON BLOCKED SHOTS TOP-10 LIST
Entering the final few weeks of the regular season, redshirt-senior Nadia Dumas is closing in on earning a spot on the CSU career blocked shots top-10 list, as she currently has 70 blocks on her career. Dumas, who needs just two more blocked shots to be tied for ninth on the list, has posted 18 total blocks so far this season and ranks fifth among league players averaging 1.2 blocks per game.
CLEVELAND STATE WITH THE STEAL
Entering Saturday's game against Northern Kentucky, the Vikings lead the Horizon League averaging 10.33 steals per game. Last time out, the Vikings recorded 13 steals at IUPUI, and have posted 10+ steals during eight games this season. All 10 Vikings that have seen action so far this year have notched at least one steal, led by Gabriella Smith (25), Brittni Moore (23) and Barbara Zieniewska (23).
VIKINGS ON THE GLASS
Through the first 15 games played, Cleveland State is averaging a league-best 40.2 rebounds per game, and owns a 3.3 rebounding margin which ranks fifth among league teams. The Vikings have outrebounded their opponent in 10 games so far this year, and grabbed a season-high 55 boards against Ohio Christian. Entering this weekend, three Vikings are averaging 6.0 rpg or better (Dumas-6.4, Zieniewska-6.0, Ngwafang-6.0), making Cleveland State one of just two schools to have three players ranked in the top-15 in the league statistics.
CLEVELAND STATE AMONG THE LEAGUE'S BEST
Entering the weekend, Cleveland State leads the league in scoring (71.7 ppg), rebounding (40.2 rpg), blocked shots (4.27 bpg), steals (10.33 spg), and turnover margin (3.07).
…INDIVIDUALS AMONG THE LEAGUE'S BEST
Individually, two Vikings rank in the top-five in statistical categories, led by Destiny Leo who is averaging a league-best 20.0 points per game, while ranking second with 2.3 three-pointers per game, and third with a.483 clip from the floor. Amele Ngwafang (3rd-1.5) and Nadia Dumas (5th-1.2) ranks in the top-five in blocked shots.
GRADWELL PLAYS IN 100th GAME AS A VIKING
Last time out, senior Isabelle Gradwell played in her 100th career game at Cleveland State, appearing in every game throughout her time as a Viking. Over the last 100 games, Gradwell has played 1,920 minutes, and has appeared in the starting lineup 37 times.
…DUO CLOSING IN ON 100 GAMES PLAYED AT CSU
The duo of redshirt-senior Nadia Dumas and senior Isabella Geraci are closing in on joining Isabelle Gradwell in the 100-games played club, as Dumas tallied her 98th appearance and Geraci picked up her 93rd appearance last time out.
VIKINGS POST 7-0 START TO THE 2021-22 CAMPAIGN
For just the second time in program history the Vikings went 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 tied the program record for the best start to a season, which was first set during the 1974-75 campaign.
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 56-44 record at Cleveland State and a 472-160 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 the weekend on Monday, February 7, hosting Wright State in a 6:00 p.m. contest.
