GAMES #6, 7, 8
Cleveland State vs. St. Bonaventure {Wednesday, November 26 // 6:00 p.m.}
Cleveland State vs. Valparaiso {Friday, November 28 // 1:00 p.m.}
Cleveland State vs. Radford {Saturday, November 29 // 4:00 p.m.}
All Games In Woodling Gymnasium
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will host its third annual MTE this week, welcoming St. Bonaventure, Valparaiso and Radford for the CSU Invitational presented by Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic. This week's MTE will be a round-robin format, with all games taking place in Woodling Gymnasium.
 
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, November 26
3:00 p.m. - Valparaiso vs. Radford
6:00 p.m. - Cleveland State vs. St. Bonaventure
 
Friday, November 28
1:00 p.m. - Cleveland State vs. Valparaiso
4:00 p.m. - Radford vs. St. Bonaventure
 
Saturday, November 29
1:00 p.m. - St. Bonaventure vs. Valparaiso
4:00 p.m. - Cleveland State vs. Radford
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/ST. BONAVENTURE SERIES
Wednesday's game will mark the sixth meeting between the two teams, with St. Bonaventure owning a 3-2 edge in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met was during the 2021-22 campaign, with the Vikings earning a 58-49 victory.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/VALPARAISO SERIES
Friday's game will mark the 33rd meeting between the two teams in program history, with Cleveland State owning a 17-15 edge in the all-time series. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Valparaiso left the Horizon League in 2016-17, with Cleveland State picking up wins in both matchups that year.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/RADFORD SERIES
Saturday's game will mark just the second meeting between the two teams in program history, with Radford picking up a win during the 1987-88 campaign.
 
CSU INVITATIONAL HISTORY
This year's CSU Invitational will be the third time that the Vikings will be hosting an in-season tournament, with Cleveland State owning a 6-0 record during the first two tournaments. Most recently, the Vikings hosted the CSU Invitational during the 2023-24 campaign, picking up wins against Austin Peay, Chicago State and UMKC. The 95-41 victory over Chicago State during the 2023 invite marked head coach Chris Kielsmeier's 100th victory at Cleveland State.
 
VIKING BASKETBALL BACK IN WOODLING
Woodling Gymnasium, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, was the home to Cleveland State basketball from 1973-1991. During this 18-year stretch, the men's and women's basketball teams combined for a 214-94 record at home, while the teams featured 16 future CSU Hall of Famers. After the men's and women's basketball teams moved to the Wolstein Center for the 1991-92 campaign, Woodling Gymnasium remains the home to Cleveland State volleyball and fencing.
 
MAPLES NOTCHES 20-POINT GAME AT NORTHWESTERN
Last time out, Colbi Maples notched her second 20-point game of the season, finishing with 24 points at Northwestern. Maples, who is averaging a team and league-best 16.6 points per game this season, has now recorded double-digit points in all but one contest this season. Maples tallied 18 of her points on a career-best six three-pointers, as she went 6-for-10 from behind-the-arc on the game.
                                                   
LEONARD WITH THE TAKEAWAY
Through the first five games of the year, Jada Leonard has combined for a team-best 23 steals, ranking fourth among Division I players averaging 4.6 steals per game. Leonard, who has recorded at least one steal in all five games this season, posted a season-best nine takeaways against Akron earlier this year.
 
…VIKINGS FORCING THE TURNOVER
As a team, Cleveland State is averaging a league-best 12.60 steals per game, combining for 63 takeaways through the first five games played. Against Akron earlier this year, the Vikings tallied 16 steals, and have posted 10+ takeaways in four out of the first five games.
 
VIKINGS EFFICIENT FROM THE FIELD
Through five games played this season, Cleveland State has been the most efficient offense in the Horizon League, shooting at a 46-percent clip from the field. The Vikings have posted a .425 clip or better in four of five games, including a .569 clip against Pitt Johnstown earlier this year.
 
VIKINGS FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
So far this season, the Vikings rank second nationally averaging 21.00 free throws made per game. For the year, Cleveland State has converted 105 free throws, including a 19-for-23 effort at Northwestern last time out. Individually, Izabella Zingaro has a team-best 28 free throws made on the year, while Colbi Maples has chipped in 24 free throws so far this season.
 
CLEVELAND STATE ON THE BOARDS
So far this season, a Cleveland State player has grabbed 10+ rebounds in four of the first five games, with five different players recording double-digit rebound performances. Among league players, three Vikings rank in the top-15 in rebounding, led by Izabella Zingaro with 6.6 boards per game. In addition, Ayisse Magassa and Madison Royal-Davis are both averaging 6.0 rebounds per contest. As a team, the Vikings are averaging 39.4 rebounds per game, and have outrebounded their opponent three times.
 
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 have faced 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.
 
…HOME-SWEET-HOME
This week's trio of games will be the fourth, fifth and sixth home games of a 17-game slate for the Vikings this season. Over the last four years, the Vikings have combined for a 50-3 record when playing at home, including a perfect 17-0 record during the 2023-24 campaign. When playing in Woodling Gymnasium during this stretch, the Vikings are 4-0.
 
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 572-187. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 156-71, 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.
 
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will begin Horizon League play with a pair of road games next week, traveling to Detroit Mercy on Thursday, December 4 and Oakland on Saturday, December 6.