SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will hit the road for the first time during the 2025-26 season this weekend, traveling West to face Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, November 9. Entering Sunday's contest, the Vikings stand at 1-0 on the year, while the Titans will be looking for their first win of the season.
 
A WIN ON SUNDAY WOULD…
Keep Cleveland State undefeated on the season…Put the Vikings at 2-0 against Cal State Fullerton all-time…Mark the first win for the Vikings in the state of California since the 1999-00 season.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/CAL STATE FULLERTON SERIES
Sunday's game will be just the second meeting between the two teams in program history, with Cleveland State earning a 75-65 victory over the Titans during the 1983-84 season. This will be the first meeting on either team's home court, as the 1983-84 matchup happened in Miami, Florida as part of the Miami Masonic Classic.
 
SCOUTING THE TITANS
Cal State Fullerton enters Sunday's contest with a 0-1 record on the year after dropping its season opener against Pepperdine (84-70)…Against Pepperdine, three Titans finished with double-digit points including Nicole Steiner with 17…Steiner added 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season…Sunday's game will be the second of three straight home games for the Titans to open the season…Last month, Cal State Fullerton was selected to finish 10th in The Big West preseason poll…The Titans will be under the direction of first year head coach John Bonner.
 
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.
 
…ALL 11 MAKE VIKING DEBUTS AGAINST CHICAGO STATE
All 11 of Cleveland State's newcomers made their debuts in the season opener, including Izabella Zingaro, Ella Van Weelden and Jada Leonard who earned a spot in the starting lineup. Six of the 11 newcomers scored their first points as a Viking last time out, highlighted by Colby Guinta who converted her lone three-point attempt during the final minutes of the contest.
 
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 Monday's 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.
 
…NOTCHES 20-POINT PERFORMANCE AGAINST CHICAGO STATE
Colbi Maples picked up right where she left off, finishing with a team-best 29 points against Chicago State in the season opener. Maples, who played 32 minutes in her return to the court, was 9-for-17 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers. In addition, Maples also had four assists and three rebounds. The 29 points marked her 12th 20-point performance of her CSU career.
 
FEGAN ON THE BOARDS
Last time out, junior Macey Fegan grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds against Chicago State, marking her first double-digit rebounding effort during her time at Cleveland State. Fegan, who averaged 3.7 rebounds per game last year, tallied six offensive boards and seven defensive rebounds. Fegan was part of a CSU team that grabbed 43 total rebounds, including 13 offensive boards.
 
CLEVELAND STATE DEFENSE STRONG TO START
The Vikings had a strong defensive effort in the season opener, recording 14 steals and forcing 21 turnovers, while holding Chicago State to a .267 field goal percentage. Seven of Cleveland State's steals came from Jada Leonard who was making her CSU debut, while Ella Van Weelden and Queen Ruffin both notched two takeaways. After forcing Chicago State into 21 turnovers, the Viking defense turned these miscues into 19 points.
 
THE NON-LEAGUE SLATE
Cleveland State opened an 11-game non-league slate on Monday, 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
Sunday's game at Cal State Fullerton will be the first 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 the longest trip of the season this weekend when they head to the West Coast.
 
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 569-186. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 153-70, 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.
 
CLEVELAND STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RADIO SHOW RETURNS
Fans can stay up-to-date with all things Viking Basketball throughout the 2025-26 season by tuning in to the Cleveland State Women's Basketball Radio Show. The weekly show will air on Monday nights beginning at 6:00 p.m. on 99.1 FM and will feature a variety of coaches, student-athletes and members of the CSU community.
 
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will return home for two games next week, hosting Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, November 12 and Akron on Sunday, November 16.