GAME #3
Cleveland State at Drake
Tuesday, November 10 | 12:00 p.m. EST | Des Moines, Iowa
Watch Live | Live Stats

SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will be back on the road to continue the 2026-27 campaign this week, traveling to Drake for a 12:00 p.m. EST contest on Tuesday, November 10. Both the Vikings and the Bulldogs enter Tuesday's contest with a 1-1 record on the young season.
 
A WIN ON TUESDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings back in the win column…Mark the first win over Drake in program history…Put Cleveland State at 2-1 on the young season.
 
THE CLEVELAND STATE/DRAKE SERIES
Tuesday's game will be the first ever meeting between the two teams in program history. Drake is one of two new opponents for the Vikings during th 2026-27 season.
 
VIKINGS IN EARLY TIPOFFS
Tuesday's contest at Drake will be the first of five early tipoffs for the Vikings this season, as the game is set for a 12:00 p.m. EST start. In addition to Tuesday's game at Drake, the Vikings will also play in kids day games at RMU and at home, while Cleveland State's two contests in Puerto Rico will have early morning tipoffs.
 
THE BOB DUNN ERA
The 2026-27 campaign will mark the first season under new head coach Bob Dunn, who was named the eighth head coach in program history back in April. Dunn, who served two stints as an assistant coach at Cleveland State (2021-23, 2024-25), was part of the Vikings' 2023 Horizon League Championship team and helped the Vikings make three postseason appearances. In addition, Dunn helped Cleveland State to a program-best 30-5 record during the 2022-23 season.
 
…DUNN PICKS UP FIRST CAREER WIN AT PENN STATE
Head coach Bob Dunn led the Vikings to a 62-61 victory in last week's season opener at Penn State, marking the first win of his head coaching career. Dunn, who spent the 2025-26 campaign as an assistant coach at Penn State, became the fourth head coach in program history to earn a victory in their Cleveland State head coaching debut.
 
FIVE VIKINGS RETURN FOR 2026-27
Cleveland State returns five players from last season's team that posted a 20-win campaign and advanced to the Great 8 of the 2026 WNIT. Those returners include Queen Ruffin, Hanna Medina Kajevic, Sarah Hurley, Paula Pique, and Sur Lozano. Last season, Hurley and Pique were both part of the starting lineup throughout the year, Hurley averaging 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds, while Pique averaged 3.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
 
…JOINED BY EIGHT TRANSFERS
Head Coach Bob Dunn also added eight transfers to the roster for the 2026-27 season, including Cleveland-area natives Annika Corcoran (Chardon, Ohio) and Alexa Hocevar (Willoughby Hills, Ohio).
 
POWER FOUR WIN FOR THE VIKES
Last week's season opening 62-61 victory over Penn State marked the 16th win over a current Power Four school in program history, and first since the 2012-13 season. This also marked Cleveland State's first win over Penn State in two total matchups.
 
HOCEVAR & PIQUE RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLES AT BGSU
Last time out, Alexa Hocevar and Paula Pique both recorded double-doubles against Bowling Green, Hocevar finishing with 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Pique notching 14 points and 11 boards. After the first two games of the season, Hocevar leads the Horizon League averaging 10.5 rebounds per game, while Pique ranks second with 10.0 boards per contest. This duo has helped the Vikings combine for 78 rebounds on the year, ranking third among Horizon League teams averaging 39.0 boards per game.
 
TAYLOR NOTCHES BACK-TO-BACK 15-POINT EFFORTS
After the first two games of the season Macie Taylor has been Cleveland State's top offensive threat, entering Tuesday's game averaging 18.0 points per game. In the season opener against Penn State Taylor notched her first 20-point performance, while she followed that up with 16 points against Bowling Green last time out. One week into the 2026-27 season, Taylor is tied for the Horizon League lead averaging 18.0 points per game, while she ranks fifth with a .550 field goal percentage (11-20).
 
THE NON-LEAGUE SLATE
Cleveland State will be continuing a 12-game non-league slate on Tuesday, which includes a pair of new opponents in Drake and Defiance. CSU will host its annual Viking Invitational as part of its non-league slate, while also making the trip to Puerto Rico for the third straight season.
 
…VIKES ON THE ROAD
Tuesday's game at Drake will be the third of 17 road games for the Vikings during 2026-27, including seven during non-league play. Cleveland State will open the season with four straight road games, marking the first time since the shortened 2020-21 season that the Vikings will start the year with four games away from home.
 
MARIAH WHITE RETURNS TO CSU SIDELINE
Mariah White, a 2021 graduate of Cleveland State, returns to the sideline for the 2026-27 campaign, serving as an assistant coach for the Vikings. White, who was part of Cleveland State's 2021 WBI Championship team, was a two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and claimed five All-League honors during her career as a Viking. White graduated ranked in the top-15 in the CSU Career Record Book in steals, free throws made and points.
 
A LOOK BACK ON 2025-26
Cleveland State combined for a 26-10 record last season, marking the program's fifth straight 20-win campaign. The Vikings advanced to their seventh straight #HLWBB Semifinal appearance last year, while Cleveland State made its sixth straight postseason trip. The Vikings earned a spot in the WNIT field, and advanced to the Great 8.
 
CATCH THE VIKES ON THE RADIO
Fans can stay up-to-date with all things Viking Basketball throughout the 2026-27 season by tuning in to the Cleveland State Basketball Coaches Show. The seasonal show will air eight times throughout the year, and can be heard from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on 99.1 FM and will feature a variety of coaches, student-athletes and special guests.
 
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will close out its season-opening four-game roadswing next Monday (November 16), traveling to Xavier for a 6:30 p.m. contest.