SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will return home for a pair of games this week, beginning with a 7:00 p.m. contest against Youngstown State on Thursday, January 23. Entering Thursday's matchup, the Vikings are 15-4 overall this season and 7-2 in Horizon League play, while the Penguins are 8-11 overall and 3-6 in #HLWBB action.
 
A WIN ON THURSDAY WOULD…
Give the Vikings three straight wins…Put Cleveland State at 7-1 when playing at home this season…Improve the Vikings to 8-2 in #HLWBB action.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/YOUNGSTOWN STATE SERIES
Thursday's game will mark the 85th meeting between the two teams in program history, with Youngstown State owning a 46-38 advantage in the all-time series. Despite the edge for YSU, the Vikings have won four straight against the Penguins.
 
VIKINGS IN #HLWBB PLAY
Cleveland State enters Thursday's contest with a 7-2 record in Horizon League play this season, currently sitting in third place in the #HLWBB standings. Entering the seventh week of league action, the Vikings are one of three teams with seven or more #HLWBB wins on the year.
 
LAST TIME OUT…
Cleveland State recorded its first series sweep of the season, picking up a 61-39 victory at IU Indy. After picking up an 82-49 victory over the Jaguars in the first meeting of the season, the Vikings have now won six straight against IU Indy and own a 13-12 advantage in the all-time series.
 
REISMA NOTCHES DOUBLE-DOUBLE AT IU INDY
Last time out, Jordana Reisma recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds at IU Indy. The 21 points marked her fourth 20-point performance of the season, while the 12 boards tied her career-high. For the season, Reisma ranks fifth among Horizon League players averaging 15.8 points per game, while she also ranks fifth averaging 7.0 rebounds per game.
 
…REISMA EFFICIENT FROM THE FIELD
Jordana Reisma continues to be one of the most efficient shooters among Division I players, entering Thursday's contest against YSU with a .694 field goal percentage on the year. Reisma, who currently leads all Division I players in field goal percentage, is shooting 120-for-173 on the year, while she currently sits at the top of the CSU Career Record Book with a .595 clip (342-574) for her career.
 
PERDUE CONTINUES TO LEAD #HLWBB IN SCORING
Entering Thursday's contest against Youngstown State, Mickayla Perdue continues to lead the league in scoring, averaging 20.4 points per game as the only #HLWBB player to average 20.0+ ppg on the year. Through 19 games played, Perdue has combined for 387 total points, and has recorded 11 20-point performances on the season. Nationally, Perdue ranks 13th with her 387 total points, while she is the only #HLWBB player to eclipse the 375-point mark so far this year.
 
LEO CLOSING IN ON 1,800 CAREER POINTS
After posting eight points at IU Indy last time out, Destiny Leo now has 1,772 total points, and is closing in on becoming the fifth Viking all-time with 1,800 career points. Leo, who currently ranks fifth on the CSU Scoring List, needs just 28 more points to reach the milestone and would be the first Viking to do so since Shalonda Winton during the 2011-12 season. So far this year, Leo is averaging 11.3 points per game and has recorded double-digit points in four of the last six games.
 
GUERREIRO AMONG #HLWBB LEADERS
Entering the week, Sara Guerreiro continues to be one of the best all-around players in the Horizon League, ranking in the top-five in rebounding, assists and assist to turnover ratio. Guerreiro currently leads the league averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, while she ranks second with a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio and third averaging 4.5 assists per game. In addition, Guerreiro also ranks 20th averaging 10.4 points per game. Through 19 games played, Guerreiro leads the Vikings with 152 total boards and 85 total assists.
 
CLEVELAND STATE ON THE BOARDS
The Vikings continue to be the top rebounding team in the league, averaging 38.9 boards per game through the first 19 games played. Cleveland State also holds a league-best +7.8 rebounding margin, and has outrebounded its opponent 16 times so far this year. The Vikings have combined for 740 rebounds on the season, including 549 defensive boards which is tops in the league.
 
…AND FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
Through 19 games played this season, the Vikings rank 11th nationally averaging 16.37 free throws made per game. For the season, Cleveland State has converted a league-best 311 free throws, including 20+ free throws during four games this year. As a team, the Vikings are shooting at a .755 clip from the free throw line on the year, with the quartet of Mickayla Perdue (92-110), Sara Guerreiro (48-54), Destiny Leo (40-50), and Macey Fegan (16-19) all shooting 80-percent or better.
 
…AND FROM THE FIELD
As a team, Cleveland State has had one of the more efficient offenses this season, leading the Horizon League and ranking 11th among Division I teams with a .480 clip from the field on the year. The Vikings have shot 50-percent or better during seven games so far this season, including twice during #HLWBB play (at Wright State, at Detroit Mercy). Individually, four Vikings are shooting 45-percent or better from the field on the year; Jordana Reisma (.694), Mya Moore (.511), Sara Guerreiro (.473), and Macey Fegan (.466).
 
HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings will be under the direction of seventh-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who currently owns a career head coaching record of 556-179. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 140-63, with his 100th victory as a Viking coming in a 95-41 decision over Chicago State last season. Under his guidance, Cleveland State has posted four 20-win seasons, including a program-record 30 wins during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
CLEVELAND STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RADIO SHOW
Fans can stay up-to-date with all things Viking Basketball throughout the 2024-25 season by tuning in to the Cleveland State Women's Basketball Radio Show. The weekly show airs on Monday nights beginning at 6:00 p.m. on 1350 AM and features a variety of coaches, student-athletes and members of the CSU community.
 
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will close out its current homestand on Saturday, January 25 when the Vikings host Ohio Christian at 11:30 a.m.