VIDEO: Game Highlights | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State senior trio of Imani Gordon, Cori Coleman, and Kiersten Green combined for 58 points Sunday afternoon, as the Vikings kept their record at home perfect on the season with a 69-67 victory over Kent State. The win improves CSU to 5-3 on the year, while the Golden Flashes fall to 1-7.
The win also gave head coach Kate Peterson Abiad her 150th career victory.
Green led the offense with 22 points – her first 20-point game of the season – while Coleman added 21 points for her third 20-point game of the year. Green and Coleman both led the Vikings from three-point, converting three shots each from behind-the-arc. Gordon added 15 points for the Vikings, marking her third straight double-digit scoring game, while Brooke Smith added seven points and Alexis Eckles added four.
The trio of Eckles, Coleman, and Green all tallied a team-high six rebounds on the game, while Gordon and Shadae Bosley each added four boards.
Cleveland State was able to control play throughout the majority of the first half – including an 11-point lead twice – heading into the halftime break with a 36-31 advantage.
The Vikings came out flat to start the second half though, missing their first four shots, as Kent State went on an 11-2 run over the first three minutes to gain a 42-38 lead with 16:57 left to play. The Golden Flashes would hold the lead over the next 2:26, until a Coleman three-pointer gave the advantage back to CSU at 45-44 with 14:31 left on the clock.
The two teams then traded baskets over the next seven minutes, until six straight points from Kent State gave the advantage back to the Golden Flashes at 60-54 with just under six minutes left to play.
Kent State was able to hold the advantage - and control play - over the next two minutes, until the Cleveland State defense came alive over the final 2:30 of the contest.
Over the final 2:30 of the game, the Vikings forced Kent State into four turnovers, and closed out the game on a 9-0 run.
With just 1:14 left on the clock, Coleman grabbed a huge offensive rebound and then converted a three-pointer from the corner to bring the Vikings within one point at 67-66. The Vikings then forced a turnover on the ensuing KSU possession, and Gordon converted one of two free throws to tie the contest at 67-67 with just 53 seconds remaining.
On the next trip down the floor, Coleman came up with another huge play, notching her third steal of the game to give possession back to the Vikings with just 27 seconds remaining. After a Cleveland State timeout, Coleman converted a layup to put the Vikings up, 69-67 with just eight seconds remaining. The Golden Flashes weren't able to convert their final field goal attempt, with the Vikings coming away with the two-point victory.
As a team, Cleveland State notched 26 points off of 16 Kent State turnovers, while recording nine steals – their third game of the season with at least nine steals.
The Vikings converted a season-high 22 free throws on the game, going 22-for-35 (.629) from the charity stripe.
Cleveland State will now take an eight-day break from competition, returning to action against Belmont on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The Belmont contest will take place in Woodling Gymnasium and will begin at 2:00 p.m.
