Game Highlights | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team was able to keep its record at home perfect this season, upending the East Carolina Pirates, 59-57 Thursday evening. The Vikings now stand at 4-3 overall this season – and 3-0 at home – while the Pirates fall to 6-2.
Cori Coleman finished with 21 points – her second 20-point game of the season – to lead the Viking offense against East Carolina, and notched a team-high eight rebounds. Coleman recorded 16 of her points during the second half, including 13 straight points over a span of 3:22.
Imani Gordon added 15 points for the Vikings, along with seven boards and four assists. Alexis Eckles tallied nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
During the opening stanza Cleveland State held a lead just once – gaining a 3-2 advantage at the 16:36 mark – while East Carolina controlled play throughout the majority of the first half, taking a 30-24 lead into the halftime break.
ECU would continue to control play throughout the first part of the second half, gaining a 10-point lead (37-27) at the 15:21 mark following a 7-3 run. The Vikings wouldn't back down though, as they battled their way back into the contest after adjusting to the ECU press, going on a 16-6 run over a six-minute span to tie the contest at 43-43 with 11:03 left to play. During this stretch, Coleman was responsible for 13 points, while Allison Mitchell recorded a three-pointer – her lone points of the contest.
The two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions then, until Eckles was able to give the Vikings their first lead in over 28 minutes with a free throw at the 6:20 mark – putting the score at 48-47 CSU. After an ECU turnover on the ensuing possession, Eckles extended Cleveland State's lead to 50-47 with a layup at the 5:57 mark.
The Pirates were able to bring the contest back within one point with a pair of free throws on the next trip down the court, but a 6-0 run from the Vikings that was aided by a pair of defensive rebounds from Eckles, gave Cleveland State a 7-point advantage (56-49) with just over four minutes left to play.
The two teams once again traded baskets on the next two possessions, until a mini 4-0 run from the Pirates would once again bring them within one point at the 58-57 mark with just 1:27 left on the clock. After a missed field goal from the Vikings on their next trip down the floor, ECU called a timeout to set up their final play of the game with possession of the ball and just 25 seconds left on the clock.
With the Vikings still holding a one-point lead, East Carolina ran the clock down to six seconds before they put up their final shot – which bounced off the rim and ended up in Gordon's possession for the all-important defensive rebound.
The Pirates were then forced to foul, sending Gordon to the line for a pair of free throws. Gordon split the free throws, putting the Vikings up by two at 59-57, which would prove to be the final score of the contest.
As a team, the Vikings recorded 10 assists on their 20 made field goals, while grabbing 38 total rebounds. CSU also forced the Pirates into 20 turnovers, which led to 14 Cleveland State points.
For the game, Coleman went 3-for-5 from behind-the-arc, and now ranks second all-time at Cleveland State with 168 career three-pointers.
The Vikings will continue their homestand on Sunday (Dec. 7), hosting Kent State at 3:30 p.m. Sunday's game will be a doubleheader with the CSU men's team, as they are set to face Western Illinois at 1:00 p.m.
