GAME #15
Cleveland State vs. Youngstown State
Monday, December 29 | 4:00 p.m. | Wolstein Center
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out the 2025 calendar year at home on Monday, December 29, hosting Youngstown State at 4:00 p.m. Entering Monday's matchup, the Vikings are 12-2 overall and 2-1 in Horizon League play, while YSU stands at 8-4 on the year and owns a matching 2-1 record in league action.
 
A WIN ON MONDAY WOULD...
Extend Cleveland State's current win streak to six straight games…Keep the Vikings perfect at home this season…Improve CSU to 2-0 in #HLWBB matchups at home on the year.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/YOUNGSTOWN STATE SERIES
Monday's game will mark the 87th meeting between the two teams in program history, with Youngstown State owning a 47-39 advantage in the all-time series. Despite the edge for YSU, the Vikings have won five out of the last six matchups against the Penguins, including a 67-53 win at the Wolstein Center last year.
 
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State enters Monday's game with an 8-4 overall record this season, and stands at 2-1 in Horizon League play…YSU's first two league wins came against Milwaukee and Wright State, while the Penguins' first loss came at Green Bay…Most recently, YSU went 1-1 at the FIU Holiday Classic, including a 72-69 win over UMass…Monday's game will be the sixth road game for the Penguins over the last seven outings…YSU is currently tied for fourth in the #HLWBB standings…So far this year, the Penguins rank second in rebounding (36.8) and second in assists (15.17), while Sophia Gregory ranks second individually averaging 8.2 rebounds per game.
 
VIKINGS RETURN TO #HLWBB PLAY
Cleveland State will return to Horizon League play on Monday, looking to improve to 3-1 in #HLWBB contests so far this season. Last time the Vikings played at home, they picked up a 74-56 victory over Northern Kentucky. Through the first three games of league play, the Vikings are currently tied for fourth in the #HLWBB standings - along with Youngstown State.
 
…RETURN TO HOME-SWEET-HOME
Monday's contest will be the ninth game of a 17-game home slate for the Vikings this season - a place where they own an 8-0 record so far this season. Over the last four years, the Vikings have combined for a 55-3 record when playing at home, including a perfect 17-0 record during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
DOUBLEHEADER BASKETBALL
Monday will mark the first - and only scheduled - doubleheader for the Cleveland State men's and women's basketball teams, as the men are set to face IU Indy following the conclusion of the women's game.
 
LAST TIME OUT…
Cleveland State closed out its non-league slate with a pair of wins in Puerto Rico, picking up a 67-61 victory over College of Charleston and an 82-45 win over Puerto Rico Bayamon. With the two wins, the Vikings are now 4-0 when playing in Puerto Rico over the last two seasons.
 
…VIKINGS IN NON-LEAGUE PLAY
Following the pair of wins in Puerto Rico last time out, the Vikings finished non-league play with a 10-1 record. This marks the first time since the 2019-20 campaign that Cleveland State has finished with 10+ wins during its early season non-league slate.
 
LEONARD NAMED #HLWBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After helping the Vikings to a 3-0 week last time out, Jada Leonard was named the Horizon League Player of the Week, earning the first weekly accolade for the Vikings this season. Leonard averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 assists and 2.7 steals throughout the three games, shooting 43-percent from the field and 42-percent from three-point range.
 
…LEONARD NOTCHES 20-POINT GAME AGAINST PR BAYAMON
Last time out, Jada Leonard notched her third 20-point game of the season, finishing with 25 points against Puerto Rico Bayamon. Leonard is one of just six Horizon League players with three or more 20-point performances this year, while she ranks fifth averaging 13.8 points per game.
 
ZINGARO AMONG LEAGUE BEST IN SCORING & REBOUNDING
Entering the week, Izabella Zingaro is the only Horizon League player to rank in the top-five in scoring and rebounding, ranking third averaging 14.4 points per game and fourth averaging 6.1 boards per game. In addition, Zingaro is one of the most efficient shooters from the floor, as she owns a .683 clip from the field on the year and a .849 clip 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 Izabella Zingaro who has two on the year. Cleveland State also leads the league with eight individual 10+ rebounding performances so far this year, with Zingaro and Madison Royal-Davis being two of just eight #HLWBB players with multiple double-digit rebounding efforts.
 
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 (18.9) and Field Goal Percentage (.473). In addition, the Vikings have scored 70+ points nine times, while three Vikings rank in the top-10 among league players in scoring; Colbi Maples (2nd-16.0), Izabella Zingaro (3rd-14.4) and Jada Leonard (5th-13.8).
 
VIKINGS WITH THE ASSIST
Last time out, the Vikings did a great job of sharing the ball, as they finished with 24 assists on 32 made field goals. This marked a season-high for the Vikings, while it was the second time over the last three games that CSU has posted 20+ helpers. Over the last four games, Cleveland State is averaging 18.0 assists per game, while they rank third among league teams averaing 13.9 assists per game on the year.
 
LEONARD WITH THE TAKEAWAY
After 14 games played this season, Jada Leonard continues to lead the Horizon League and rank fifth nationally with 48 steals on the year. Leonard, who has recorded at least one takeaway in every game this season, is averaging 3.4 steals per game.
 
VIKINGS IN THE RANKINGS
Cleveland State currently sits 17th 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 (Green Bay), while three other teams are receiving votes (Youngstown State, Purdue Fort Wayne, Robert Morris).
 
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 580-188. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 164-72, 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 hit the road to open 2026, traveling to Green Bay on Friday, January 2 and Milwaukee on Sunday, January 4.