INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following a career-high performance at Miami University last weekend, Cleveland State women's basketball junior Cori Coleman has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week. This marks Coleman's first weekly honor of her career, and the second weekly honor for the Vikings this season.
Last Sunday, Coleman posted a career-high 27 points to lead the Vikings against the RedHawks – going 10-for-16 from the floor and 5-for-9 from three-point – both of which also marked career-highs. The Springfield Gardens, N.Y. native also recorded two rebounds, two steals, and one assist in 35-minutes of action at Miami.
"Cori's play both offensively and defensively has really stepped up over the last couple games, and this is the player that we hope Cori will be for our program," head coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. "I'm really excited to see her recognized for this award this week, because it just reinforces the opportunity and the ability that she has to be an impact player in the Horizon League. Hopefully this also gives her some incentive and motivation to continue this type of play heading into the league season."
Coleman, who is now averaging 13.6 points per game, notched back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in her career following her 27-point performance at Miami and a 24-point effort against Indiana (Dec. 21). With her 13.6 ppg average, Coleman enters the ninth week of the season ranking 13th among Horizon League players.
Not only did Coleman notch back-to-back 20-point performances, she also converted five three-pointers in consecutive contests for the first time in her career with five makes against Miami and Indiana. Coleman became the 18th Viking to record 100 three-pointers on their career against Indiana, and has now made 109 three-pointers– just 13 shy of cracking the top-10 list in the CSU record book.
"We look at Cori to be a leader for us, especially at the offensive end of the floor and these last couple games have really spoken volumes to our team as to the contribution she can make, and the expectations that we can have for her to lead our team," Peterson Abiad said.
Over the last three games Coleman has picked up her offensive play, averaging 23.0 points per game on a 57-percent clip from the floor (23-for-40), and a 56-percent clip from behind-the-arc (13-for-23).
Coleman and the Vikings will return to action on Saturday (Jan. 4), traveling to South Dakota for a 3:00 p.m. EST contest. A link for live stats is available on the women's basketball schedule page at CSUVikings.com.