GAME #4
vs. Florida Atlantic
1 p.m. | Sat., Nov. 23
Wolstein Center
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will continue its four-game homestand Saturday afternoon (November 23), hosting Florida Atlantic in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Saturday's contest is set for a 1:00 p.m. tip. Entering the game, the Vikings are 1-2 after the first two weeks of the 2013-14 season, while Florida Atlantic has an even 2-2 record.
LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings dropped their first contest at home during the 2013-14 season, falling to a tough Eastern Michigan team, 84-70. CSU was led offensively by the junior trio of Imani Gordon, Cori Coleman, and Kiersten Green, who tallied 43 of Cleveland State's 70 points. The Vikings managed a .359 shooting percentage from the field (23-64), while EMU posted a .508 clip from the floor (31-61). CSU forced the Eagles into 20 turnovers during the contest, marking the second time this season that the Vikings have forced their opponents to commit 20 or more turnovers.
A WIN SATURDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings at .500 for the season (2-2)…Give CSU the 1-0 advantage in the all-time series…Make the Vikings 2-1 at the Wolstein Center this year.
NEW OPPONENT FOR THE VIKINGS
Saturday's contest against the Owls will be the first meeting between Cleveland State and Florida Atlantic. FAU is Cleveland State's lone first-time opponent this season, and the sixth opponent all-time from the state of Florida.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Florida Atlantic enters the contest with a 2-2 record, most recently defeating Western Illinois, 81-77. Earlier this season, the Owls picked up a 120-43 victory over Florida Memorial, marking the second-most points in program history. Through the first four games, FAU has three players averaging double-digit points - Latavia Dempsey (15.8), Takia Brooks (12.5), and Chenise Miller (11.5) - while Kimberly Smith is just shy of the mark averaging 9.3 points per game. Miller also leads the Owls averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. The Owls have changed up their starting lineup throughout the opening weeks of the season, with only two players starting all four games (Briah Blakely & Kimberly Smith).
VIKINGS WITH THE ASSIST
Last time out, Cleveland State posted 19 assists on its 23 made field goals against Eastern Michigan, and now ranks fourth in the league averaging 14.3 assists per game. Against the Eagles, the Vikings got a career-high six assists from freshman Khayla Livingston, who is averaging 2.7 helpers per game through the first two weeks. Imani Gordon and Kiersten Green have a team-high nine assists on the young season - ranking ninth in the league averaging 3.0 per game.
VIKINGS PLAYING THE TWINBILL
Saturday's game will be the first of four doubleheaders this season, as the CSU men's team will host Robert Morris following the conclusion of the women's game. The other doubleheaders this season will be; January 16 (Women vs. Milwaukee - Men vs. Oakland), February 13 (Women vs. Valparaiso - Men vs. UIC), and February 15 (Women vs. Detroit - Men vs. Green Bay).
VIKINGS FROM BEHIND THE ARC
Through the first three games of the season, CSU has a league-best .394 three-point field goal percentage, hitting 28 of its 71 attempts. Individually, the Vikings have three players ranked in the top-10 in three-point field goal percentage, including Kiersten Green who ranks second in the league with a .615 clip from behind the arc. Cleveland State also has two players ranked in the top-15 in three-point field goals made - Green who leads the league averaging 2.7 three-point field goals per game, and Olivia Voskuhl who is averaging 1.7 per game to rank 13th.
CSU LEADING THE WAY
Entering the weekend the Vikings also lead the league in steals, averaging 13.7 per contest. Cleveland State is the only team to have four players ranked individually in the top-10, led by Cori Coleman who has a team and league-high 11 steals so far this season.
…WOLSTEIN CENTER STEALS RECORD
As a team, Cleveland State tallied 27 steals against Lake Erie (Nov. 14) - marking a Wolstein Center record. The 27 steals ranks second in program history, behind 28-steal performances during the 1983-84 and 1980-81 seasons. Nine Vikings tallied steals against the Storm, including five that notched three or more (Coleman 7, Gordon 4, Schmitt 3, Smith 3, Voskuhl 3).