GAME #12
Cleveland State vs. Northern Kentucky
Tuesday, December 16 | 11:00 a.m. | Wolstein Center
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will return to Horizon League play for a single game, hosting Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, December 16 in its annual Health+Hoops Game. Tuesday's tipoff is slated for 11:00 a.m. in the Wolstein Center. Entering the week, the Vikings stand at 9-2 overall and 1-1 in Horizon League play, while Northern Kentucky is 3-9 on the year and 0-2 in #HLWBB contests.
 
A WIN ON TUESDAY WOULD…
Give the Vikings three straight wins…Keep Cleveland State perfect at home this season…Put the Vikings at 2-1 in Horizon League play.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/NORTHERN KENTUCKY SERIES
Tuesday's game will be the 24th meeting between the two teams, with Cleveland State holding a 17-6 edge in the all-time series. Over the last 13 matchups, the Vikings have posted an 11-2 record against the Norse.
 
SCOUTING THE NORSE
Northern Kentucky enters Tuesday's game with a 3-9 overall record this season, and stands at 0-2 in Horizon League play…So far, the Norse have faced Green Bay and Robert Morris in #HLWBB action, with Tuesday's game being the first road contest in league play for the Norse…Earlier this season, NKU was selected to finish sixth in the #HLWBB Preseason Poll…So far this year, the Norse rank second in the league in Offensive Rebounds (11.9), Three-Point Field Goals (7.3) and Free Throw Percentage (.741)…Individually, Karina Bystry leads the Norse averaging 11.2 points per game, while Maddie Moody is averaging a team-best 5.8 rebounds per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT…
The Vikings closed out their Woodling Gymnasium slate with an 84-52 victory over Niagara, improving to 4-0 when playing inside Woodling. The Niagara victory also improved Cleveland State to 8-1 in non-league matchups, while it put the Vikings at 7-0 when playing at home this season.
 
HEALTH + HOOPS WITH VIKING BASKETBALL
Tuesday's game against Northern Kentucky will be Cleveland State's annual Kids Day Game - Health + Hoops With Viking Basketball. The event, which is open to all local Cleveland schools, will feature pre-game health and wellness activities, in-game interactive promotions, and more.
 
…VIKINGS IN EARLY TIPOFFS
Tuesday's game will mark the first of two scheduled early tipoffs for the Vikings during the 2025-26 campaign. In addition to Tuesday's Kids Day Game, the Vikings will also have an early tip when they take on Puerto Rico-Bayamon later this week. Last season, Cleveland State went 5-0 during early tipoff games, including a 72-55 victory over Detroit Mercy in the annual Health+Hoops contest.
 
HOME-SWEET-HOME
Tuesday's contest will be the eighth home game of a 17-game slate for the Vikings this season. Over the last four years, the Vikings have combined for a 54-3 record when playing at home, including a perfect 17-0 record during the 2023-24 campaign. After playing its last four home games at Woodling Gymnasium, Tuesday will mark the first game inside the Wolstein Center since November 16 when the Vikings earned a 76-55 win over Akron.
 
RETURN TO #HLWBB PLAY
Tuesday's contest will mark a return to Horizon League play for the Vikings, who stand at 1-1 in #HLWBB play so far this season. Cleveland State's first league win of the year came in a 72-55 decision at Oakland. Tuesday's game against NKU will mark the first of 10 home contests for Cleveland State during its 20-game #HLWBB slate.
 
VIKINGS HAVE FIVE IN DOUBLE-FIGURES AGAINST NIAGARA
For the first time this season, Cleveland State had five players finish with double-digit points, as Colbi Maples (19), Izabella Zingaro (16), Ella Van Weelden (13), Jada Leonard (11), and Ayisse Magassa (10) all posted 10+ points against Niagara last time out. Through the first 11 games, Cleveland State has had at least three players finish in double-figures eight times, including eight 20-point performances from a trio of Vikings.
 
…CLEVELAND STATE ON THE OFFENSIVE END
As a team, Cleveland State has had one of the more efficient offenses so far this season, leading the Horizon League in Scoring (74.6), Margin (18.5) and Field Goal Percentage (.465). The Vikings have shot 50-percent or better four times this season, including a .551 clip against Niagara last time out. In addition, the Vikings have scored 70+ points eight times, while three Vikings rank in the top-10 among league players in scoring; Colbi Maples (2nd-16.5), Izabella Zingaro (3rd-14.5) and Jada Leonard (8th-12.8).
 
ZINGARO EFFICIENT FROM THE FLOOR
Last time out, Izabella Zingaro had a perfect performance on the offensive end, going 4-for-4 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line to finish with 16 points for her eighth double-digit scoring game of the season. Zingaro, who also had a perfect offensive performance against Akron earlier this year, is shooting 65-percent from the field on the season and 87-percent from the free throw line.
 
FIVE VIKINGS HAVE DOUBLE-DOUBLES ON THE YEAR
Through the first part of the 2025-26 campaign a league-leading five Vikings have tallied double-doubles, including Macey Fegan who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds at Oakland in the last #HLWBB matchup. Cleveland State also leads the league with seven individual 10+ rebounding performances so far this year, with Madison Royal-Davis being one of just seven #HLWBB players with multiple double-digit rebounding efforts.
 
LEONARD WITH THE TAKEAWAY
After 11 games played this season, Jada Leonard continues to lead the Horizon League and rank eighth nationally with 40 steals on the year. Leonard, who has recorded at least one takeaway in every game this season, is averaging 3.6 steals per game.
 
VIKINGS FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
So far this season, the Vikings rank seventh nationally averaging 18.73 free throws made per game. For the year, Cleveland State has converted a league-best 206 free throws, including 24 free throws against Niagara last time out. Individually, Izabella Zingaro has been shooting 87-percent from the free throw line with a team-best 56 made free throws on the year, while Colbi Maples has converted 54.
 
VIKINGS IN THE RANKINGS
Cleveland State entered the sixth week of the 2025-26 campaign ranked 22nd in the latest edition of the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. The Vikings are one of two Horizon League teams to be in the current rankings, while two other league teams are receiving votes.
 
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 577-188. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 161-72, 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 close out non-league play on the road later this week, traveling to Puerto Rico to take on College of Charleston (December 19) and Puerto Rico-Bayamon (December 21).