GAME #19
Cleveland State vs. Detroit Mercy
Wednesday, January 14 | 7:00 pm | Wolstein Center
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will continue its current three-game homestand this week, beginning with a 7:00 p.m. contest against Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, January 14. Entering Wednesday's matchup, the Vikings are 13-5 on the year and 3-4 in Horizon League play, while Detroit Mercy is currently 4-12 overall and 2-5 in league action.
 
A WIN ON WEDNESDAY WOULD...
Give the Vikings back-to-back wins…Give Cleveland State a 10-1 record when playing at home this season.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/DEROIT MERCY SERIES
Wednesday's game will mark the 74th meeting between the two teams, with Detroit Mercy owning a 43-30 edge in the all-time series. Despite this advantage, Cleveland State has won eight out of the last 10 matchups.
 
SCOUTING THE TITANS
Detroit Mercy enters Wednesday's game with a 4-12 overall record, including a 2-5 mark in Horizon League play…Most recently, the Titans are on a five-game losing skid, with their last victory coming in a 59-46 decision over Delaware State in December…Wednesday's game marks the lone road contest for the Titans during a four-game stretch…As a team, Detroit Mercy ranks second averaging 12.1 offensive rebounds per game…Individually, Jasmine Edwards ranks third averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, while also ranking 12th averaging 11.5 points per game.
 
HOME-SWEET-HOME
Wednesday's contest will be the 11th game of a 17-game home slate for the Vikings this season - a place where they own a 9-1 record so far this season. Over the last four years, the Vikings have combined for a 56-4 record when playing at home, including a perfect 17-0 record during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
MAGASSA TRACKING 500 CAREER REBOUNDS
Entering Wednesday's game against Detroit Mercy, Ayisse Magassa is tracking down 500 career rebounds, as she currently has 498 boards. So far this season, Magassa is averaging 3.9 rebounds per game with 70 total boards. Earlier this season, Magassa grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds against Akron.
 
FEGAN TALLIES DOUBLE-DOUBLE AGAINST RAIDERS
Last time out, Macey Fegan recorded her second double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Wright State. Fegan was 5-for-7 from the field on the day, while four of her rebounds came as offensive boards. Fegan is one of two Vikings with multiple double-doubles this season (Izabella Zingaro), while she is averaging 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on the year.
 
…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 and Izabella Zingaro who have two on the year. Cleveland State is one of just two schools with two or more players that have multiple double-doubles on the year (Detroit Mercy), while the Vikings also lead the league with nine individual 10+ rebounding performances on the year.
 
ZINGARO LEADING THE VIKING OFFENSE
After finishing with 19 points against Wright State last time out, Izabella Zingaro is now leading the Vikings - and ranks second in the Horizon League - averaging 15.2 points per game on the year. Zingaro, who has tallied 15+ points 12 times so far this season, is one of 11 #HLWBB players with three or more 20-point performances.
 
…ZINGARO AMONG NATION'S BEST IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Entering Wednesday's game, Izabella Zingaro ranks fourth among Division I players with a .644 field goal percentage on the year. Zingaro, who has been perfect from the field twice this season, leads all league players in the category while also ranking second in the #HLWBB standings with a .825 free throw percentage.
 
HURLEY BACK IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Last time out, sophomore Sarah Hurley was back in the starting lineup for the Vikings, marking her fourth appearance in the starting five for her career. Overall this season, Hurley is averaging 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, but over the last five contests she is averaging 5.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Against Wright State last week, Hurley recorded nine points - on a trio of triples - along with a career-high tying nine rebounds.
 
LEONARD TOP-15 NATIONALLY IN STEALS
After 18 games played this season, Jada Leonard continues to lead the Horizon League and rank 13th nationally with 58 steals on the year. Leonard, who has recorded at least one takeaway in every game this season, is averaging 3.2 steals per game and had two steals against Wright State last time out. Leonard's 58 steals on the year makes her the only Horizon League player with 50+ takeaways during the 2025-26 campaign.
 
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 (72.6), Margin (14.3) and Field Goal Percentage (.461). In addition, the Vikings have scored 70+ points 10 times, while three Vikings rank in the top-five among league players in scoring; Izabella Zingaro (2nd-15.2), Colbi Maples (3rd-14.7), and Jada Leonard (4th-13.6).
 
…VIKINGS SHARING THE BALL
So far this season the Vikings have done a good job of sharing the ball, as they rank third among league teams averaging 14.28 assists per game. Last time out, Cleveland State recorded 21 assists on 27 made field goals against Wright State, marking the eighth straight game that the Vikings have recorded double-digit helpers. Through the first 18 games, CSU has posted 10+ assists 16 times, including a trio of 20-assist games.
 
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 581-191. At Cleveland State, Kielsmeier owns a record of 165-75, 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 the week on Sunday, January 18, hosting Robert Morris at 2:00 p.m.