Contact: Renee Adam
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South Dakota (23-8 in 2011-12) at Cleveland State (12-19 in 2011-12)
Date: Friday, Nov. 9, 2012
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Site: Wolstein Center
Series: First Meeting
Tickets: General Admission $8
Promotions: First 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a FREE CSU t-shirt and a voucher for a FREE hotdog & small Pepsi
SETTING THE SCENE
Cleveland State state will open the 2012-13 season this Friday (Nov. 9), hosting South Dakota at 5:00 p.m. The Vikings posted two victories during their exhibition schedule, defeating Walsh University (83-67) and Ursuline College (66-33). CSU returns eight letterwinners and three starters from last year's squad, including Preseason Horizon League First Team honoree senior Shalonda Winton.
PREVIEWING CLEVELAND STATE
This season's starting lineup will consist of two seniors and three sophomores, led by senior Shalonda Winton (18.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.7 apg), a preseason first team all-league pick. Winton, along with classmate Honesty King (8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.8 apg) and the sophomore trio of Cori Coleman (8.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg), Imani Gordon (3.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.8 apg) and Kiersten Green (3.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 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 (1.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.5 apg), junior Haley Schmitt (1.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.2 apg) and sophomore Tess Zufall (1.2 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.2 apg). The eight returning letterwinners will be joined by four freshmen this season, guards Adesuwa Aideyman(Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) and Jasmine Flanagan (Corona, Calif./Centennial) and forwards Allison Mitchell (South Point, Ohio/South Point) and Nafeshia Holifield (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent).
SCOUTING THE COYOTES
Under first-year head coach Amy Williams, South Dakota returns eight letterwinners and two starters from a squad that went 23-8 last season. Included in the two returning starters is Alexis Yackley who led the Summit League in assists per game last year (4.8) and in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3-to-1)...The Coyotes were picked to finish sixth in the Summit League preseason poll after placing third last year with a 12-6 league record...Yackley is one of four seniors on the 2012-13 roster, while USD also has two juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Friday (Nov. 9) will be the first of two doubleheaders for the Cleveland State basketball teams this season, as the men's team will take on Grambling following the women's contest at 7:30 p.m. 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 118-159. 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 season ranked 12th in scoring (1,181 points), seventh in rebounding (763 rebounds), second in defensive rebounds (499), fourth in offensive rebounds (264) and free throws made (316), seventh in free throws attempted (437) and blocked shots (77) and 10th in games started (87).
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).
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR MARCH
The annual Horizon League Championship will begin with a single opening round game on March 11 and the quarterfinals on March 13 at campus sites. The highest remaining seed will host the semifinals on March 15 and the championship game on March 17.
CSU HOOPS LUNCHEON RETURNS
The fourth annual CSU Hoops Luncheon Series will debut this week on Thursday, Nov. 8, with Viking basketball fans having the opportunity to get preseason updates from CSU basketball head coaches Kate Peterson Abiad and Gary Waters. The luncheon will take place on the fifth floor Viking Loge of the Wolstein Center annex and reservations can be made by calling (216) 687-5454.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will begin a four-game roadswing next week, traveling to Ohio University for a 7:00 p.m. contest on Tuesday, November 13. CSU will then travel to Illinois on Sunday, November 18 and Nevada for two games on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24.