Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 21
Evanston, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Cleveland State
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Return Home Friday To Battle Cleveland State
11/20/2025 11:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Northwestern looks to move to 5-0 for first time since 2019-20 season
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 20, 2025) – Northwestern (4-0) puts its unblemished record on the line on Friday evening when it welcomes Cleveland State to Welsh-Ryan Arena in a battle of unbeatens. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern continued its perfect start to the season on Monday afternoon, as it held off DePaul by a 79-72 final at Wintrust Arena in Chicago's South Loop. The win was the Wildcats' first on the road over the Blue Demons since November 29, 2014.
Grace Sullivan surpassed the 20-point mark for the second time in three games, pouring in a game-high 26 points as part of a performance that also included nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. Tayla Thomas ripped down a career-best 18 rebounds, the top single-game total in the Big Ten this season, and added 11 points en route to her second double-double in as many outings. Caroline Lau connected on a trio of three-point attempts, as she finished with 20 points, in addition to six rebounds and nine assists. Lau, who ranks second in the Big Ten in assists (8.0 apg), has dished out seven or more helpers in each of Northwestern's first four games.
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Like Northwestern, Cleveland State enters Friday's matchup with a perfect 4-0 record. The Vikings are coming off a 76-55 victory over in-state rival Akron last Sunday at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Led by eighth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, Cleveland State was picked fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll. Last season, Kielsmeier piloted the Vikings to a 27-10 finish (14-6 HL), and a berth in the Fab 4 of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). It marked the fifth straight postseason appearance for the program.
Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Colbi Maples serves as the focal point of the Cleveland State attack. Maples, who missed the majority of last season after earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors in 2023-24, averages a team-high 14.8 points. She poured in a season-high 29 points in the Vikings' 71-49 rout of Chicago State on November 3.
Bryant transfer Jada Leonard has wasted no time in making an impact on both ends of the floor, putting up 13.5 points per game and 5.5 steals per game, the latter of which leads the Horizon League and ranks third nationally. Highlighted by Leonard's work on the defensive end, Cleveland State sits 11th in Division I in scoring defense, allowing just 47.3 points per contest.
SERIES STUFF
While Friday's matchup will serve as the first meeting between Northwestern and Cleveland State, the Wildcats are no strangers to Horizon League competition.
The 'Cats raised the curtain on the 2025-26 season with a 67-64 win over fellow league member IU Indy on November 5. Sullivan (18 points, 18 rebounds) and Thomas (11 points, 13 rebounds) both posted double-doubles in the victory, while Xamiya Walton poured in a career-high 17 points, a total capped off by a three in the closing seconds that gave Northwestern a lead it would not relinquish.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads south over the Thanksgiving holiday to Fort Myers, Fla., where it will compete in the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off. The 'Cats will battle Abilene Christian (Nov. 28) and Missouri (Nov. 29) at the two-day event, with both matchups set to be televised live on ION.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern continued its perfect start to the season on Monday afternoon, as it held off DePaul by a 79-72 final at Wintrust Arena in Chicago's South Loop. The win was the Wildcats' first on the road over the Blue Demons since November 29, 2014.
Grace Sullivan surpassed the 20-point mark for the second time in three games, pouring in a game-high 26 points as part of a performance that also included nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. Tayla Thomas ripped down a career-best 18 rebounds, the top single-game total in the Big Ten this season, and added 11 points en route to her second double-double in as many outings. Caroline Lau connected on a trio of three-point attempts, as she finished with 20 points, in addition to six rebounds and nine assists. Lau, who ranks second in the Big Ten in assists (8.0 apg), has dished out seven or more helpers in each of Northwestern's first four games.
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Like Northwestern, Cleveland State enters Friday's matchup with a perfect 4-0 record. The Vikings are coming off a 76-55 victory over in-state rival Akron last Sunday at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Led by eighth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, Cleveland State was picked fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll. Last season, Kielsmeier piloted the Vikings to a 27-10 finish (14-6 HL), and a berth in the Fab 4 of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). It marked the fifth straight postseason appearance for the program.
Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Colbi Maples serves as the focal point of the Cleveland State attack. Maples, who missed the majority of last season after earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors in 2023-24, averages a team-high 14.8 points. She poured in a season-high 29 points in the Vikings' 71-49 rout of Chicago State on November 3.
Bryant transfer Jada Leonard has wasted no time in making an impact on both ends of the floor, putting up 13.5 points per game and 5.5 steals per game, the latter of which leads the Horizon League and ranks third nationally. Highlighted by Leonard's work on the defensive end, Cleveland State sits 11th in Division I in scoring defense, allowing just 47.3 points per contest.
SERIES STUFF
While Friday's matchup will serve as the first meeting between Northwestern and Cleveland State, the Wildcats are no strangers to Horizon League competition.
The 'Cats raised the curtain on the 2025-26 season with a 67-64 win over fellow league member IU Indy on November 5. Sullivan (18 points, 18 rebounds) and Thomas (11 points, 13 rebounds) both posted double-doubles in the victory, while Xamiya Walton poured in a career-high 17 points, a total capped off by a three in the closing seconds that gave Northwestern a lead it would not relinquish.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads south over the Thanksgiving holiday to Fort Myers, Fla., where it will compete in the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off. The 'Cats will battle Abilene Christian (Nov. 28) and Missouri (Nov. 29) at the two-day event, with both matchups set to be televised live on ION.
Players Mentioned
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