Preview: College of Charleston vs. Cleveland State (Women’s Basketball) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Interstat) — A pair of surging nonconference women’s basketball teams will meet on a neutral court Friday when the College of Charleston Cougars face the Cleveland State Vikings at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The matchup features teams with a combined 17-4 record. Cleveland State (10-2) enters on a three-game winning streak, most recently a 74-56 home victory over Northern Kentucky on Dec. 16. The Vikings are led by standout guard Izabella Zingaro, who is averaging 17.3 points over her last three games, including a 22-point, 8-rebound performance in a win at Oakland on Dec. 6. College of Charleston (7-2) arrives with momentum from a significant road win, defeating Florida State 75-70 on Dec. 14. The Cougars’ catalyst is dynamic guard Taylor Barbot, who scored 20 points and dished 8 assists in the upset over the Seminoles. Barbot has recorded at least 6 assists in five of her last six games, driving the Cougars’ offense. This contest is the first of two games for each program in the Puerto Rico Clasico. Both teams will face host P.R.-Mayaguez this weekend before returning to mainland U.S. play. Cleveland State’s strength has been its consistent scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 56.8 points during its current win streak. The Vikings will need to contain Barbot’s playmaking to slow a Charleston team averaging 75.2 points in its victories. The Cougars, meanwhile, will be tested by a balanced Cleveland State attack that saw Jada Leonard (14 points, 7 assists) and Colbi Maples (17 points) join Zingaro as key contributors in the last outing. Tipoff is set for Friday, Dec. 19. Charleston will face P.R.-Mayaguez on Saturday, while Cleveland State meets the same host on Sunday to conclude the event.