GAME #5
Cleveland State at Northwestern
Friday, November 21 | 7:30 p.m. (est) | Evanston, Ill.
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will return to the road for its lone contest this week, traveling to Northwestern on Friday, November 21. Entering Friday's matchup both teams stand at 4-0 on the year.
 
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD…
Keep Cleveland State undefeated on the season…Mark the first win against Northwestern in program history…Put the Vikings at 2-0 when playing on the road this year.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/NORTHWESTERN SERIES
Friday's game will be the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern enters Friday's game with a 4-0 record on the year, including a 3-0 mark when playing at home…The Wildcats will be opening the 2025-26 campaign by playing six of their first eight games at home…Cleveland State will be the second Horizon League opponent for Northwestern this season, as the Wildcats picked up a 67-64 victory over IU Indy in the season opener…Through four games played, three Wildcats are averaging double-digit points, led by Grace Sullivan with 21.3 ppg…Tayla Thomas is averaging a double-double on the year with 12.3 ppg and 13.3 rpg.
 
NEW LOOK VIKINGS
This year's edition of the Vikings features just three returners from last year's team - Colbi Maples, Macey Fegan and Sarah Hurley - while they are joined by 11 newcomers. This newcomer group includes nine transfers and two true freshmen. Despite having 11 newcomers on the roster, this group has a vast amount of collegiate experience, with all nine of the transfers having started at least one game at their previous institutions.
 
LEONARD WITH THE TAKEAWAY
Through the first four games of the year, Jada Leonard has combined for a team-best 22 steals, ranking third among Division I players averaging 5.5 steals per game. Leonard, who grabbed nine takeaways against Akron last time out, has recorded at least five steals during three out of four games so far this year.
 
…CONVERTING ON THE OFFENSIVE END
Jada Leonard also had a strong offensive performance against Akron last time out, finishing with a team-best 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Leonard, who is averaging 13.5 points per game on the year, notched her first 20-point game of the season, becoming the second Viking to record 20+ points in a game this year.
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT REBOUNDING PERFORMANCES
So far this season at least one Viking has finished with double-digit rebounds in each game, with Macey Fegan, Paula Pique, Izabella Zingaro, Madison Royal-Davis, and Ayisse Magassa all notching 10+ rebound performances. This group has helped Cleveland State average 42.3 rebounds per game on the season, holding a +12.8 rebound margin over its opponents.
 
…MAGASSA BECOMES FOURTH VIKING TO RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Last time out, senior Ayisse Magassa recorded her first double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Akron. Magassa, who is the fourth Viking to post a double-double so far this year, is averaging 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The 10 boards marked a season-high for Magassa, while the 13 points marked the second straight double-digit scoring game for the senior.
 
VIKINGS EFFICIENT FROM THE FIELD
Through four games played this season, Cleveland State has been the most efficient offense in the Horizon League, shooting at a 48-percent clip from the field. The Vikings have posted a .425 clip or better in all four games, including a .569 clip against Pitt Johnstown last week.
 
…ZINGARO EFFICIENT INDIVIDUALLY
Izabella Zingaro has had a strong shooting performance individually for the Vikings, shooting at a .727 clip through four games played. Zingaro, who is 16-for-22 from the field on the year, is averaging 12.5 points per game, including a pair of double-digit scoring performances against Cal State Fullerton (16 pts) and Pitt Johnstown (18).
 
VIKINGS FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
So far this season, the Vikings rank second nationally averaging 21.50 free throws made per game. For the year, Cleveland State has converted 86 free throws, including a 21-for-30 effort against Akron last time out. Individually, Colbi Maples has a team-best 20 free throws made on the year, while Izabella Zingaro has chipped in 18 free throws so far this season.
 
THE NON-LEAGUE SLATE
Cleveland State will be continuing an 11-game non-league slate, which features seven games at home and just four games on the road. The Vikings will face two new opponents during non-league play in Northwestern and Pittsburgh-Johnstown, while Cleveland State will be making a trip to California and returning to Puerto Rico during the first part of the 2025-26 season.
 
…ROAD GAMES
Friday's game at Northwestern will be the second of 14 road games for the Vikings during 2025-26. Despite playing just four road games during non-league play, the Vikings will travel over 9,000 miles, including trips to California, Illinois and Puerto Rico.
 
CLEVELAND STATE SELECTED FOURTH IN #HLWBB PRESEASON POLL
Last month, Cleveland State was selected to finish fourth in the #HLWBB Preseason Poll, picking up 87 points and one first place vote. This marks the fourth straight year that the Vikings have been picked to finish in the top-four of the Horizon League.
 
MAPLES NAMED #HLWBB PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
In addition to the preseason poll, the Horizon League also announced their preseason all-league teams, with Colbi Maples earning Preseason Player of the Year honors. Maples, who also earned the honor prior to last season, became just the second Viking all-time to earn the recognition more than once. Maples also earned a spot on the Preseason All-League First Team.
 
…MAPLES SET FOR RETURN
After missing the final 34 games during 2024-25 due to a season-ending injury, Colbi Maples returned to the court in the season opener against Chicago State. Maples, who was the 2023-24 Horizon League Player of the Year, averaged 16.6 points, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game during her last full season with the Vikings, and entered the 2025-26 season with 1,071 career points, including 580 that she recorded during her first season at CSU.
 
HEAD COACH CHRIS KIELSMEIER
The Vikings will be under the direction of eighth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who owns a career head coaching record of 572-186. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 156-70, with his 150th victory as a Viking coming in a 92-61 decision over Detroit Mercy last season. Under his guidance, Cleveland State has posted five 20-win seasons, including a program-record 30 wins during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
A LOOK BACK AT 2024-25
Cleveland State combined for a 27-10 record last season, marking the program's fourth straight 20-win campaign and fifth total under Chris Kielsmeier. The Vikings advanced to their sixth straight #HLWBB Semifinal appearance last year, while Cleveland State made its fifth straight postseason trip. The Vikings earned a spot in the WNIT field, and advanced to the Fab 4, marking the third postseason semifinal appearance in program history.
 
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will return home to host the CSU Invitational presented by Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic next week, hosting St. Bonaventure, Valparaiso and Radford Wednesday, November 26 through Saturday, November 29.