HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball kicks off the weekend in Cleveland, when the Norse face Cleveland State at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 18. The game between the Norse and the Vikings will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse held close with the only remaining undefeated team in the Horizon League, but ultimately fell by six to Wright State on Jan 12, 61-55. NKU had an outstanding rebounding night with 46 boards, led by Grayson Rose's career-high 14 rebounds. Kailey Coffey added 11 rebounds to go with 14 points for her fifth career double-double, and Taylor Clos led the Norse offense with 16 points and three assists.
 
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE: The Vikings sit at 6-11 overall and are 3-3 in Horizon League action, with wins against Oakland, Detroit Mercy and UIC, all three of which sit at the bottom of the league standings. Cleveland State has four players averaging double digits, with Mariah Miller leading the way at 15.8 points per game while Jade Ely is not far off at 14.8 ppg. The Viking roster also features Savanna Crockett, who has been putting in a bid to be the league's top freshman with 10.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Crockett leads the league in defensive rebounding with seven defensive boards per game, helping the Vikings rank 28th nationally with 29 defensive rebounds per game. The rookie also leads the league with eight double-doubles on the season. In addition to their rebounding, the Vikings also place emphasis on defense with 9.5 steals per game, good for 81st nationally.
 
In terms of offensive numbers, Cleveland State shoots 40.7 percent from the field, but 27.6 percent from 3-point range, and averages 67.0 points per game while allowing opponents to score 67.2 ppg. However, in league games, the Vikings are connecting at a 35.7 shooting percentage from the field and dip to 21.8 percent from beyond the arc and are averaging nearly seven points fewer per game at 59.7 ppg.
           
Friday's meeting will mark the ninth all-time between the two programs, with Cleveland State holding a 5-3 advantage in the series. The Vikings have won the past four meetings, with NKU's last win coming on March 10, 2016, with a 71-59 win in the Horizon League tournament.