MIAMI, Fla. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team got back on the winning track Sunday afternoon, picking up a 73-65 victory at FIU in their final contest of a three-game roadswing. The Vikings now stand at 2-2 on the season, while the Panthers fall to 0-3.
Kiersten Green led the Viking offense with 18 points – 15 of which she posted during the first half. All of Green's 18 points came off three-pointers, as she went 6-for-7 from behind-the-arc. Cori Coleman and Imani Gordon also finished the game with double-digits, Coleman notching 14 points and Gordon adding 10.
All nine Vikings who saw action Sunday got in the scoring column, including Shadae Bosley who recorded the first points of her collegiate career with a layup in the first half.
Olivia Voskuhl posted a team-high seven rebounds against FIU along with eight points, while Gordon added six boards. Green and Coleman combined for nine of Cleveland State's 18 assists, while Voskuhl posted three blocks and Coleman and Alexis Eckles added two steals each.
After getting off to a slow start at the beginning of the contest, the Vikings went on an 11-2 run eight minutes into the frame, gaining a 21-16 advantage with 12:04 left to play in the first half. During this run, Green converted three straight three-pointers – and finished the half with a perfect 5-for-5 performance from behind-the-arc.
The Vikings held the lead for the remainder of the first half then, and closed the period on a 13-5 run over the final five minutes, going into the halftime break with a 42-28 advantage.
During the first half, Cleveland State shot 60-percent from the floor (17-for-28) and 66-percent from behind-the-arc (6-for-9).
At the start of the second half, FIU was able to close the gap to single digits at 47-38 following a 10-5 run over the first 4:51, but an Ashanti Abshaw jumper on the next possession once again gave Cleveland State a double-digit lead at 49-38 with 14:43 left on the clock.
The Panthers were able to chip away at the lead over the next five minutes, until a pair of three-pointers from Voskuhl and a Gordon layup extended Cleveland State's lead to nine points at 61-52 with 7:02 left to play. Six straight FIU points once again brought the Panthers within three points at 61-58, but a Coleman layup with 5:17 left to play and an Adesuwa Aideyman three-pointer put the Vikings back up by eight (66-58) with 4:37 left to play.
Over the final four minutes of the contest the two teams traded baskets, with Cleveland State coming away with the eight-point victory.
For the contest, the Vikings posted a .536 clip from the field (30-for-56) and a .556 clip from three-point (10-for-18). Cleveland State also posted 18 assists, nine blocks, and five steals against the Panthers.
The Vikings will return to the Wolstein Center next Saturday (Nov. 29), as they will host Notre Dame (OH) in a 2:00 p.m. contest.
