Contact: Renee Adam
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Cleveland State (1-2) at Nevada (2-1)
University of Nevada Tournament
Date: Friday, November 23, 2012
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST
Site: Lawlor Events Center - Reno, Nevada
Cleveland State vs. Santa Clara (2-2) or Toledo (2-1)
University of Nevada Tournament
Date: Saturday, November 24
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST or 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Lawlor Events Center
SETTING THE SCENE
Cleveland State will close out its four-game roadswing this weekend, traveling West to the University of Nevada for the John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic. The Vikings will open the weekend with a 5:00 p.m. EST contest against the host Wolfpack on Friday, November 23. Depending on the outcome of the game, CSU will face either Santa Clara or Toledo on Saturday, November 24. The Vikings enter the weekend looking to get back on the winning track, after dropping two straight road contests at Ohio (Nov. 13) and at Illinois (Nov. 18).
PREVIEWING CLEVELAND STATE
This season's starting lineup will consist of two seniors and three sophomores, led by senior Shalonda Winton (23.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), a preseason first team all-league pick. Winton, along with classmate Honesty King (8.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 apg) and the sophomore trio of Cori Coleman (10.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg), Imani Gordon (8.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 0.3 apg) and Kiersten Green (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 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; seniorKaila Montgomery (2.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg), junior Haley Schmitt (1.0 ppg, 1.5 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 (1.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 1.3 apg) and forwards Allison Mitchell and Nafeshia Holifield (1.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.0 apg).
THREE STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DOUBLES FOR WINTON
Shalonda Winton tallied her third straight double-double last Sunday (Nov. 18), posting 24 points and 12 rebounds against Illinois. Winton, who is one of only two league players to post double-doubles in the first three contests of the season, ranks second in the league in scoring (23.3 ppg) and second in rebounding (12.3 rpg).
GORDON SETS CAREER-HIGH AGAINST ILLINI
Imani Gordon recorded a personal-best at Illinois last Sunday (Nov. 18), grabbing 18 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. Gordon, who notched the second double-digit rebounding game of her career, now ranks 12th all-time at CSU with the single game performance. She is just the second Viking to post 18 or more rebounds in a single game under head coach Kate Peterson Abiad, joining Shalonda Winton who also notched 18 last season.
WINTON REACHES 800-REBOUND MILESTONE
With her 12 boards at Illinois last weekend, Shalonda Winton now has 800 rebounds on her career, becoming the sixth Viking all-time to reach the 800-rebound milestone. Winton currently ranks sixth all-time at CSU, needing 55 more boards to move into fifth place which is held by Lanette Taylor (1989-92), who posted 854 rebounds during her career.
GREEN RETURNS TO FORM
After posting just two points and four rebounds through the first two contests of the season, Kiersten Green returned to form against Illinois, recording 14 points and seven rebounds. The 14 points marked Green's fourth double-digit scoring game of her career, while she also set a personal best with a 5-for-7 performance from the free throw line.
CSU CRASHING THE BOARDS
For the second time this season the Vikings outrebounded their opponent, posting 50 boards against Illinois' 37. Last Sunday's performance by CSU marks the first 50-board game since the 2009-10 season when the Vikings notched 53 against Indiana. The Vikings also held the advantage in rebounds earlier this season at Ohio (Nov. 13), 38-35.
WINTON EXTENDS 20-POINT GAME STREAK
For the third straight contest Shalonda Winton recorded at least 20-points, notching 24 at Illinois last Sunday. Winton is the only player in the league to have three 20-point games this season and has now recorded 17 on her career.
WINTON NOTCHES CAREER-HIGH FOUR BLOCKS
Shalonda Winton tallied a career-high four blocks against Ohio last week (Nov. 13), and now ranks sixth all-time at CSU with 82 career blocks. Winton leads the league averaging 1.7 blocks per game, and holds the top mark among league players so far this season.
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 119-161. 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.
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 eighth in scoring (1,251 points), sixth in rebounding (800 rebounds), second in defensive rebounds (528), fourth in offensive rebounds (272) and free throws made (334), fifth in free throws attempted (461), sixth in blocked shots (82) and 10th in games started (90).
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 return home for a 7:00 p.m. contest on Wednesday, November 28, as they host Virginia Commonwealth. Wednesday's contest will be the first of five home games for CSU in a seven-game stretch.