GAME #27
@ Oakland
5 p.m. | Thurs., Feb. 27
O'Rena | Rochester, Mich.
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SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will continue its three-game roadswing on Thursday (Feb. 27), traveling to Oakland for a 5:00 p.m. contest. The Vikings will look to get back on the winning track against the Grizzlies, as they enter the week with an even 13-13 record and an 8-5 mark in Horizon League play. Oakland enters the week with an overall record of 11-15 and a 6-7 mark in league action.
A WIN THURSDAY WOULD…
Split the season series between Cleveland State and Oakland…Put the Vikings back on the winning track and mark their sixth win out of the last eight games…Mark CSU's first win against the Grizzlies…Keep the Vikings over .500 for the season (14-13).
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Oakland also enters Thursday's contest on a two-game losing skid, dropping contests against Wright State and Valparaiso last week…The Grizzlies own an 11-15 overall record and a 6-7 mark in league games - ranking sixth in the current Horizon League standings…As a team, Oakland leads the league averaging 4.2 blocked shots per game, while the Grizzlies rank second averaging 41.1 rebounds per game - one of just three league schools to average at least 40 rebounds…Oakland also ranks second in assists (15.6 apg) and third in steals (8.5 spg)…Individually, Kim Bee leads the league with 2.2 blocks per game, while Elena Popkey ranks second in three-point field goal percentage (.406) and Victoria Lipsomb ranks second in assist/turnover ratio (1.8).
COLEMAN NOTCHES 1,000TH POINT AT GREEN BAY
With a three-pointer at the 18:12 mark of the second half at Green Bay last Thursday, Cori Coleman became the 24th Viking to record 1,000 career points. Coleman, who finished the contest with a team-high 17 points, enters Thursday's game with 1,019 career points. Coleman is just the fifth player to reach 1,000 career points as a junior, and the eighth to reach 1,000 points under head coach Kate Peterson Abiad.
…COLEMAN ON THE 3-POINT TOP-10 LIST
A large portion of Coleman's points have come from behind-the-arc this season, as she has now tallied multiple three-pointers in the last nine games - and 11 of the last 12. Coleman enters Thursday's contest ranked sixth on the CSU career three-point list with 144 converted shots from behind-the-arc, while she ranks seventh on the single-season list with 59 three-pointers so far this season. For the year, Coleman ranks fifth among league players averaging 2.3 three-pointers per game.
GORDON NOTCHES NINTH DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Imani Gordon tallied her ninth double-double of the season last time out, posting 28 points and 15 rebounds at Milwaukee. Gordon, who was 12-for-20 (.600) from the floor against the Panthers, was just shy of her career-high in both categories. She is now one of just three league players to tally nine or more double-doubles on the season, joining UIC's Ruvanna Campbell and Milwaukee's Avyanna Young.
…GORDON ON THE REBOUNDING CHART
Following her 15-rebound performance at Milwaukee, Imani Gordon now ranks 20th all-time at Cleveland State with 507 career rebounds. Gordon, who has tallied 11 double-digit rebound games this season, ranks second in the league with 251 total rebounds on the year. She now needs 14 more rebounds to move into 19th place on the all-time rebounding list.
VIKINGS SET SINGLE-SEASON THREE-POINT RECORD
Following their five three-pointers against Milwaukee last Sunday, Cleveland State set a program record with 232 three-pointers this season. Earlier this year the 2013-14 team also became just the fifth team in program history to knock down 200 three-pointers in a single season. On the year, the Vikings lead the league with a .354 clip from three-point, and average a league-leading 8.9 three-pointers per game.
VIKING OFFENSE AGAINST MILWAUKEE
For just the second time this season Cleveland State had five players post double-digit points in a single game, as Imani Gordon, Cori Coleman, Khayla Livingston, Haley Schmitt, and Adesuwa Aideyman did so against Milwaukee. This group accounted for all but four of CSU's points against the Panthers, led by Gordon's 28-point performance. Earlier this season all five starters tallied double-digits against Youngstown State (Feb. 1).
GORDON IN LEAGUE GAMES ONLY
During Horizon League games only this season, Imani Gordon is one of just two league players to average a double-double - ranking fourth with 18.8 points per game and second with 10.7 rebounds per game. Gordon has been CSU's top scorer during five league contests, and CSU's top rebounder during 12 contests. Through the first 13 league games, Gordon has seven double-doubles and six 20+ point games.
CSU CONTINUES TO LEAD LEAGUE IN SHOOTING EFFICIENCY
After 16 weeks of play, the Vikings continue to lead the Horizon League with a .429 field goal percentage and a .354 three-point field goal percentage. If the season were to end right now, the .354 clip from behind-the-arc would be a program best, while the .429 clip from the field would rank fourth in the single season record book.