Posted: Jan 27, 2023
GAME #22
Cleveland State at Oakland
Saturday, January 28 | 2:00 p.m. | Rochester, Mich.
Live Stats | Live Video | CSU Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out the month of January this weekend, traveling to Oakland for a 2:00 p.m. contest on Saturday, January 28. Entering Saturday's game, Cleveland State stands at 18-7 overall this season and 9-2 in #HLWBB play, while Oakland is currently 10-10 overall and 5-6 in Horizon League action.
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD…
Give the Vikings back-to-back wins…Make Cleveland State 2-0 during the second half of the #HLWBB slate…Give the Vikings the season sweep over Oakland.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/OAKLAND SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 20th meeting between the two teams in program history, with Cleveland State owning a 14-5 advantage in the all-time series. The Vikings have won 10 straight against the Grizzlies, including a 77-54 victory in the first matchup this year.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Oakland enters Saturday's game with an even 10-10 overall record this season, while standing at 5-6 in Horizon League play…The Grizzlies are currently on a two-game losing skid, with their last victory coming in an 81-66 decision at Detroit Mercy (1/18)…Saturday's game is the second of a four-game homestand for Oakland, with the Grizzlies owning a 6-2 record when playing at home this year…Among league teams, Oakland ranks third in rebounding (38.9), turnover margin (3.15) and steals (9.30)…While Brooke Quarles-Daniels leads the league averaging 2.1 steals per game, and ranks seventh in assists (3.2) and 12th in scoring (11.9).
LAST TIME OUT…
Cleveland State got back in the win column with a convincing 107-65 victory at Detroit Mercy. With the win, the Vikings notched their first season sweep of the year, and marked their second 100-point game out of their last three contests. The Vikings shot 61-percent from the field and recorded 15 assists, while the Cleveland State defense recorded 14 steals and forced 25 Detroit Mercy turnovers. The Vikings held a 36-22 advantage on the boards, while also owning a 54-16 edge in points in the paint.
VIKINGS ECLIPSE 100-POINT MARK…AGAIN
The Vikings recorded the 15th 100-point game in program history last time out, finishing with 107 points at Detroit Mercy. This marked just the second time in program history that Cleveland State has recorded multiple 100-point games in the same season (also notched 103 points at Wright State on Jan. 20), while it puts the Vikings at 13-2 all-time when scoring 100+ points.
500 CAREER HEAD COACHING WINS FOR CHRIS KIELSMEIER
Thursday's 107-65 victory at Detroit Mercy marked the 500th career head coaching win for Chris Kielsmeier, with 84 of those wins coming during his tenure at Cleveland State. Prior to joining the Vikings, Kielsmeier earned 179 wins during eight seasons at Howard Payne University and 237 wins during 10 seasons at Wayne State College.
VIKINGS TIED FOR FIRST PLACE IN #HLWBB STANDINGS
One game into the second half of Horizon League play, and the Vikings remain tied for first place in the #HLWBB standings with a 9-2 record. Cleveland State's 9-2 record marks the best 11-game start in league play for the Vikings, as they continue to be tied with Green Bay and Youngstown State at the top of the standings.
ROAD WARRIORS
Saturday's game at Oakland will be the fourth of four straight road games for the Vikings, as they will close out the month of January away from home. So far this season, Cleveland State owns a 9-2 record when playing on the road. Entering Saturday's game, the Vikings have won nine of their last 10 road contests, and own the best record among #HLWBB teams when playing away from home.
VIKINGS IN THE MID-MAJOR RANKINGS
Entering the week, Cleveland State was ranked 17th in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. The Vikings are one of three Horizon League teams to be ranked in the top-25, as Green Bay (15) and Youngstown State (16) are also ranked this week.
LEO NOTCHES 30-POINT GAME AGAINST TITANS
Junior Destiny Leo recorded her second 30-point game of the season at Detroit Mercy last time out, finishing with 31 points to tie her season-high. Leo, who leads the team and is tied for second in the league standings averaging 17.4 points per game, moved into 19th place on the CSU All-Time Scoring List and currently has 1,170 career points. Against the Titans, Leo was 10-for-13 from the floor (.769), including a trio of three-pointers that moved her into sole possession of fifth place in the CSU Career Record Book with 179 career three-pointers.
…LEO FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Entering Saturday's game at Oakland, Destiny Leo continues to be the top free throw shooter in the Horizon League, owning a .933 clip (84-for-90) from the line on the season. Nationally, Leo ranks third among Division I players in free throw percentage, while she also ranks in the top-50 for free throws made. Over the last four games, Leo has posted a perfect 24-for-24 performance from the free throw line, including an 8-for-8 effort against the Titans last time out. Leo also currently sits at the top of the CSU Career Record Book with a .908 free throw percentage for her career.
CLEVELAND STATE ON THE OFFENSIVE END
Last time out, the Vikings had another strong showing on the offensive side of the ball, shooting 61-percent from the floor including a .538 clip from behind-the-arc. This marked just the second time this season that the Vikings posted a .600 clip or higher, while the .538 clip from three-point range tied Cleveland State's season-high. In addition, the Vikings had five players in double-figures for just the second time, while Cleveland State combined for 15 assists on the night.
…AND ON THE DEFENSIVE END
Twenty-one games into the 2022-23 campaign Cleveland State leads the Horizon League in rebounding (41.0), blocked shots (4.24) and steals (9.86), serving as one of the best defensive teams in the league. Through the first 11+ weeks, the Vikings have recorded double-digit steals nine times and have notched 4+ blocked shots during 10 games. Individually, Amele Ngwafang ranks seventh among #HLWBB players averaging 6.8 rebounds per game, while Jordana Reisma is fourth with 1.2 blocks per game, and Deja Williams is sixth averaging a team-best 1.5 steals per game.
#HLWBB WEEKLY ACCOLADES
So far this season Cleveland State has earned four #HLWBB Player of the Week and three #HLWBB Freshman of the Week honors - both of which lead all league teams. Destiny Leo (11/28, 12/5), Brittni Moore (12/12) and Amele Ngwafang (1/9) have combined for the four Player of the Week honors, while Jordana Reisma has picked up all three Freshman of the Week awards (11/21, 12/5, 1/2).
VIKINGS SET PROGRAM RECORD WITH 16-GAME WIN STREAK
Earlier this season, Cleveland State set a program record with a 16-game win streak, dating from November 12, 2022 through January 12, 2023. The Vikings, who set the previous record with 11 straight wins during the 2019-20 campaign, were one of just four Division I teams with a win streak of 16+ games at the time (South Carolina, Ohio State, LSU).
HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings will be under the direction of fifth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier during the 2022-23 campaign, who owns an 84-52 record at Cleveland State and a 500-168 overall record in 23 seasons as a head coach. Kielsmeier, who joined the Vikings as the seventh head coach in program history prior to the 2018-19 season, recorded his 500th career head coaching win in a 107-65 decision at Detroit Mercy last time out.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will return to the Wolstein Center for a three-game homestand, beginning with an 11:00 a.m. contest against RMU on Thursday, February 2. Thursday's game will serve as Cleveland State's annual 'Health and Hoops' game, with pre-game health & wellness stations and interactive in-game activities.
