GAME #10
Cleveland State at Oakland
Saturday, December 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Rochester, Mich.
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out its first week of Horizon League play on Saturday, December 6, traveling to Oakland for a 12:00 p.m. contest. Entering Saturday's game, the Vikings are 7-2 overall this year, while Oakland is currently 3-5 on the season.

A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings back in the win column…Give Cleveland State its first Horizon League win of the year…Put the Vikings back at 2-2 when playing on the road this season.

THE CLEVELAND STATE/OAKLAND SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 25th meeting between the two teams in program history, with Cleveland State owning an 18-6 advantage in the all-time series. Over the last 15 matchups, the Vikings own a 14-1 record against the Grizzlies.

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Oakland enters Saturday's game with a 3-5 record on the year, including an 0-1 mark in Horizon League play…The Grizzlies opened #HLWBB play at Wright State earlier this week, dropping a 61-57 decision…Prior to the 2025-26 campaign, Oakland was selected to finish 11th in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, and is under the direction of first-year head coach Keisha Newell…Saturday's game will be the first home game for the Grizzlies since November 10…Oakland currently leads the league averaging 39.5 rebounds per game, while Sereniti Roberts-Adams ranks eighth individually (5.9).

CLEVELAND STATE SET TO BEGIN #HLWBB PLAY
Saturday's game at Oakland will mark the second #HLWBB game of the season for Cleveland State, with the Vikings owning an 85-46 record in regular season league play under head coach Chris Kielsmeier's guidance. Over the last four seasons, the Vikings have notched double-digit #HLWBB wins each year, including 14 victories last season.

…CLEVELAND STATE SELECTED FOURTH IN #HLWBB PRESEASON POLL
Earlier this year, 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.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Saturday's game at Oakland will be just the fourth road game of the season for the Vikings. Through non-league play, the Vikings have played just two games away from home, while Thursday's game at Detroit Mercy marked the first time since the 2021-22 campaign that the Vikings opened #HLWBB play on the road.

MAPLES OPENS #HLWBB PLAY WITH 20-POINT PERFORMANCE
In Thursday's Horizon League opener, Colbi Maples picked up right where she left off in #HLWBB play, as she paced the Viking offense with 25 points on the night. Maples, who tallied her fourth 20-point effort of the season, had 12 points off of four three-pointers, playing in all 40 minutes of game action.

…MAPLES LEADING THE LEAGUE IN SCORING
Following her 25-point effort at Detroit Mercy last time out, Colbi Maples continues to lead the Horizon League in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game on the year. So far this season Maples has combined for 157 total points, including a trio of 20-point performances over the last five outings.

LEONARD TOPS IN THE LEAGUE IN STEALS
Jada Leonard also continues #HLWBB play leading the league in a statistical category, as she is averaging a league-high 3.9 steals per game this season. Leonard currently ranks fifth among Division I players with 35 total takeaways on the year, and has recorded at least one steal in all nine games.

…VIKINGS FORCING THE TURNOVER
As a team, Cleveland State is averaging a league-best 12.67 steals per game, combining for 114 takeaways through the first nine games played. Against Valparaiso last week, the Vikings tallied 24 steals, and have posted 10+ takeaways in six out of the first nine games.

VIKINGS FROM THE FREE THROW LINE
So far this season, the Vikings rank ninth nationally averaging 18.78 free throws made per game. For the year, Cleveland State has converted 169 free throws, including 20+ free throws during four games on the year. Individually, Izabella Zingaro has been shooting 84-percent from the free throw line with a team-best 44 made free throws on the year, while Colbi Maples has converted 42.

CSU INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Last week, the Vikings went 3-0 at the CSU Invitational, picking up wins over St. Bonaventure, Valparaiso and Radford en route to claiming the CSU Invitational title. This marked the third time that the Vikings have hosted an in-season MTE, with the Vikings now owning a 9-0 record during the tournaments.

…MAPLES & LEONARD NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
After helping the Vikings to a 3-0 record at the CSU Invitational, the duo of Colbi Maples and Jada Leonard was named to the All-Tournament Team. Maples averaged a team-best 16.3 points per game - including a 23-point effort against St. Bonaventure - while Leonard averaged 12.0 points per game along with 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals per contest.

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 575-188. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 159-72, 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 return home and return to non-league play next weekend, hosting Niagara on Saturday, December 13. Saturday's game against the Purple Eagles will be played in Woodling Gymnasium.