Preview: Northern Kentucky at Cleveland State Women’s Basketball

CLEVELAND (Interstat) — A Horizon League women’s basketball matchup on Tuesday pits teams on opposite trajectories as the Cleveland State Vikings host the struggling Northern Kentucky Norse.

The Vikings (9-2) enter the contest at Wolstein Center riding high, having won eight of their last nine games. Their most recent outing was a dominant 84-52 victory over Niagara on Saturday, where Colbi Maples scored 19 points and Izabella Zingaro added 16 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes.

Zingaro has been a consistent force for Cleveland State. Over her last five games, the forward is averaging 17.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, including a 22-point, eight-rebound performance in a win at Oakland.

Northern Kentucky (3-9) seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 94-62 road loss to then-Ohio State last Thursday. The Norse have found wins elusive, with their last victory coming in overtime against Southern Indiana on Nov. 30.

The Norse will lean on guard Karina Bystry, who scored 21 points against the Buckeyes and has topped 16 points in four games this season. Her scoring punch will be vital against a Cleveland State defense that has held opponents to 60 points or fewer in seven of its 11 games.

This game opens the Horizon League schedule for both teams. Cleveland State’s strong non-conference record, which includes a narrow 68-75 loss at Northwestern, positions them as an early conference favorite. Northern Kentucky aims to leverage the fresh start of league play to reverse its fortunes.

The Vikings have excelled at home, boasting a 5-0 record at Wolstein Center this season, where they are winning by an average margin of 33.4 points. Northern Kentucky is 2-3 in true road games.

Following this contest, Cleveland State travels to Puerto Rico for two games, while Northern Kentucky hosts Bradley on Dec. 21.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Tuesday.