Contact: Renee Adam
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Cleveland State (1-0) at Ohio University (0-0)
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Site: Convocation Center - Athens, Ohio
Series: Ohio leads, 14-7
Last Meeting: Cleveland State 66, Ohio 56 (Cleveland, Ohio)
SETTING THE SCENE
Cleveland State will begin a four-game roadswing on Tuesday (Nov. 13), traveling to Ohio University for a 7:00 p.m. contest against the Bobcats. CSU is coming off a 60-46 victory over South Dakota in the season-opener last Friday (Nov. 9), and will be trying for its second straight victory over the Bobcats. Overall, Ohio holds the edge in the all-time series, 14-7, but CSU has won two out of the last three match ups.
PREVIEWING CLEVELAND STATE
This season's starting lineup will consist of two seniors and three sophomores, led by senior Shalonda Winton (20.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.0 apg), a preseason first team all-league pick. Winton, along with classmate Honesty King (18.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.0 apg) and the sophomore trio of Cori Coleman (7.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.0 apg), Imani Gordon (6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg) and Kiersten Green (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 1.0 apg) will form the backbone of the Viking roster. This group combined for 96 starts last season and recorded over 65-percent of CSU's scoring and over 60-percent of the rebounding. The starting five will be joined by three other returners; senior Kaila Montgomery (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg), junior Haley Schmitt (0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.0 apg) and sophomore Tess Zufall. The eight returning letterwinners will be joined by four freshmen this season, guards Adesuwa Aideyman and Jasmine Flanagan (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 4.0 apg) and forwardsAllison Mitchell and Nafeshia Holifield (0.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.0 apg).
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Tuesday's contest will mark the season opener for the Ohio Bobcats, entering the 2012-13 season with three returning starters and nine returning letterwinners. Included in the returners is junior Shavon Robinson, who led the Bobcats in assists and steals and ranked second in scoring last season...Ohio posted a 14-18 record during 2011-12, including a 6-10 mark in MAC play...OU defeated Wheeling Jesuit, 76-74 in overtime, in their lone exhibition contest this season, led by three players who scored in double-digits; Mariah Byard (17 points), Tina Fisher (14) and Lexie Baldwin (11).
WINTON SEEING DOUBLE IN SEASON OPENER
Shalonda Winton started the 2012-13 season off strong last Friday, marking the 28th double-double of her career with 22 points and 10 rebounds against South Dakota. Winton, who tallied 14 double-doubles last season, was one of just two league players to record a double-double during the opening weekend of play (Brandi Brown-YSU).
...WINTON MARKS TOP PERFORMANCE DURING OPENING WEEKEND
Shalonda Winton's 22 points against the Coyotes marked a league-best last weekend, putting her at the top of the scoring chart in this weeks' league statistics. Winton's 10 rebounds against USD was the second-best mark in the league last weekend, ranking behind an 11-board performance from Brandi Brown (YSU).
KING ADDS TO VIKING OFFENSE
Honesty King was the second Viking to post double-digit points last Friday, recording 18 points against USD. King, who was 4-for-6 from behind the arc, ranks sixth in the league with a .667 three-point field goal percentage and third in scoring after the first weekend of play.
MONTGOMERY SETS CAREER-HIGH
Kaila Montgomery, the third part of the senior trio that led CSU in the season opener, posted a career-high seven points along with four rebounds in 14 minutes of action against the Coyotes. Montgomery was 3-for-4 from the field, and currently leads the league with her .750 field goal percentage.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Last Friday (Nov. 9) was the first of two doubleheaders for the Cleveland State basketball teams this season, with both the men and women coming away with victories. The CSU men picked up a 92-49 victory over Grambling following the women's contest against South Dakota. The second doubleheader of the season will come on January 12 when both teams face Detroit in Horizon League matchups. The women will take on the Titans at 2:00 p.m., while the men's contest is set for a 4:30 p.m. start.
HEAD COACH Kate Peterson ABIAD
Cleveland State head coach Kate Peterson Abiad is entering her 10th season at the helm of the Vikings, and became the all-time winningest coach at CSU last season. Peterson Abiad is the third coach in program history to record 100 career victories, currently owning a record of 119-159. During her tenure, Peterson Abiad has led the Vikings to four 19-win seasons, two Horizon League Championships and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
39TH SEASON OF CSU BASKETBALL
The 2012-13 season will be Cleveland State's 39th year of intercollegiate competition. The Vikings have compiled an all-time record of 427-594 (.418), while also going 82-104 (.441) in 11 seasons in the Horizon League.
WINTON NAMED PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE
Senior Shalonda Winton was named to the 2012-13 Preseason All-Horizon League first team in voting conducted by the league's nine head coaches, sports information directors and select media. Winton's selection to the preseason all-league first team is the second honor of her career, as she was also tabbed a first team honoree as a junior. Last season Winton ranked third in the league in scoring (18.3), fourth in rebounding (9.8), third in defensive rebounding (6.7), sixth in blocked shots (1.1), seventh in offensive rebounds (3.0) and eighth in steals (1.8) and free throw percentage (.772).
RECORDS WATCH
Entering her senior season Shalonda Winton is in position to rewrite the Cleveland State career record book, ranking in the top-15 in eight categories. After becoming the 23rd Viking to record 1,000 career points last year, Winton enters the week ranked 11th in scoring (1,203 points), seventh in rebounding (773 rebounds), second in defensive rebounds (508), fourth in offensive rebounds (265) and free throws made (326), sixth in free throws attempted (448), seventh in blocked shots (78) and 10th in games started (88).
CSU VS. TEAMS IN 2012 POSTSEASON
The Vikings will play 10 games against teams that advanced to postseason play last year, including Green Bay who earned an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Along with Green Bay, CSU will face VCU (WNIT), Miami (OH) (WNIT), New Hampshire (WBI), Detroit (WNIT), Wright State (WBI) and could also possibly face Toledo (WNIT).
UP NEXT
The Vikings will continue their four-game roadswing at Illinois, facing the Fighting Illini on Sunday, November 18. Sunday's contest is slated for a 3:00 p.m. EST start.