Contact: Renee Adam
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Despite three players scoring in double-digits and two players with double-doubles, the Cleveland State women's basketball team fell to second-seeded Youngstown State, 69-62, in a Horizon League quarterfinal contest Wednesday evening. The Vikings end the 2012-13 season with a 13-17 record, while the Penguins improve to 22-8 and advance to the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship.
Shalonda Winton and Honesty King each tallied double-doubles for the Vikings - Winton with 19 points and 15 rebounds and King with 11 points and 10 boards. King's double-double was her first of the season and the second of her career, while Winton broke the CSU single season scoring record with her 19 points. Winton finished the 2012-13 season with 659 points - topping the previous record of 654 which was set by Kailey Klein during the 2007-08 season.
The Vikings, who went into halftime trailing by six, held a lead during the first 8:39 of the contest - with their largest lead coming at the 13:48 mark when CSU held a four-point advantage (13-9). Youngstown State then opened the second frame with four straight points to gain a 10-point lead at 41-31. The Vikings responded with a 10-4 run - including a pair of three-pointers from King - to close the gap to four points at 45-41 with 12:35 remaining.
The Vikings were able to stay within single digits over the next 6:07, until YSU posted 10 of the next 13 points to gain their largest lead of the contest at 62-46 with 3:47 left on the clock. The Vikings answered with six straight points to come within 10 at 62-52, and continued with their 9-2 run to close the gap to single digits at 64-55 on a Cori Coleman three-pointer.
Cleveland State was able to hang with the second-seeded Penguins over the final minutes of the contest, coming within three points on a Haley Schmitt jumper with just 16-seconds remaining (65-62). The Vikings were then forced to foul over the final 16-seconds of play to try and regain possession, and YSU was able to capitalize - converting all four of their free throw attempts to earn the seven-point victory.
The Vikings held the advantage in rebounding Wednesday evening, posting 43 to Youngstown State's 37. CSU also tallied 13 assists and four blocked shots while forcing 13 Penguin turnovers.