GAME #13
Bluefield State | Monday, Jan. 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Wolstein Center
Live Stats | Live Video
PDF GAME NOTES
Cleveland State vs. Bluefield State
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's basketball team will close out the non-league portion of its regular season schedule Monday evening (Jan. 5), hosting Bluefield State College at 7:00 p.m. Entering the contest CSU stands at 7-5 on the season, while Bluefield State College is 9-5. Monday's game will mark the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
A WIN MONDAY WOULD…
Put the Vikings back on the winning track…Allow CSU to finish non-league play with an 8-5 record…Improve the Vikings to 6-1 at home this season.
SCOUTING THE BLUES
Bluefield State (NCAA Division II) currently owns a 9-5 record on the season, and will face North Carolina Central before Monday's contest at Cleveland State…The Vikings will be the third Division I opponent for the Blues this year…Bluefield State is currently on a three-game win streak, topping West Virginia State, Bowie State, and Kentucky State during this stretch…BSC has five players averaging double-digit points led by Shakima Wiggins who is averaging 15.6 points per game…Tasia Nolan (122 rebounds) and Hope Smith (102) are leading the Blues in rebounding, while Charity Harris has a team-high 89 assists and a team-high 44 steals.
LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings dropped a hard-fought contest at Ohio University last time out, falling to the Bobcats, 71-64. Despite the loss, the Vikings were still able to shoot 42-percent from the field (21-for-49) and 50-percent from three-point (9-for-18). Three Vikings scored in double-figures, led by Kiersten Green and Cori Coleman who combined for 37 points.
GREEN NOTCHES 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Kiersten Green became the 25th Viking to record 1,000 career points last time out, achieving the feat at the 6:57 mark of the first half against Ohio. Green, who finished the contest with a team-high 19 points, enters Monday's contest with 1,008 points on her career. Green joins classmate Cori Coleman in the 1,000 point club, marking the fifth time in program history that a team has had a pair of 1,000 point scorers on the roster (Kailey Klein & Dominique Butler/2008-09, Ashley Schrock & Shannon Sword/2003-04, Audra Cook & LeAnna Hicks/1998-99, Terri Miller & Lisa Kipp/1987-88).
…GORDON NOT FAR BEHIND
Senior Imani Gordon is also closing in on her 1,000th career point, as she enters Monday's contest with 982 points on her career. Gordon ranks second on the team averaging 14.5 points per game, and needs 18 more points to become the 26th Viking to achieve the feat. If Gordon records her 1,000th point this season, it would mark the fourth time in program history that a pair of teammates have recorded their 1,000th point in the same season. Also, if Gordon achieves the feat this season, it would mark the first time in program history that CSU would have three 1,000 point scorers on the same team.
VIKINGS ON THE GLASS
For the second straight contest the Vikings were able to win the battle of the boards, grabbing 39 rebounds at Ohio. On the season, CSU is averaging 36.5 rebounds per game, and has outrebounded its opponent three times. Alexis Eckles (6.7 rebounds per game) and Imani Gordon (6.5 rpg) have been CSU's top rebounders this season, both ranking in the top-10 among Horizon League players in the category.
GREEN PICKS UP OFFENSIVE PLAY
Kiersten Green has picked up her offensive play over the last five games, averaging 17.1 points per game over this span compared to averaging just 9.1 points per game throughout the first eight contests. Green has notched double-digit points in four of the last five games, including a pair of 20-point games against Kent State and Morehead State. Green has also been Cleveland State's top offensive threat three times over the past five games.
GORDON NOTCHES BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Imani Gordon recorded her second double-double of the season, and the second in as many games last time out, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds at Ohio. Gordon, who is averaging 14.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game, is closing in on becoming the 13th Viking all-time to post 1,000 points and 600 rebounds on their career - entering Monday's contest with 617 rebounds and 982 points. Gordon would be the first Viking to achieve the feat since Shalonda Winton (2009-13) who finished her career with 1,840 points and 1,086 rebounds.
FREE THROW LINE IMPROVEMENT
The Vikings have been showing continuous improvement from the free throw line over the past three weeks, converting 58 of their 83 free throw attempts during the last four games (.698). Included in this stretch is CSU's season-high performance against Morehead State, when the Vikings went 23-for-25 from the charity stripe. Prior to this stretch, Cleveland State was shooting just 56-percent from the free throw line (88-for-155).
GORDON ON THE REBOUNDING CHARTS
Senior Imani Gordon continues to improve her standing on the Cleveland State career rebounding charts - entering Monday's contest ranked 14th with 617 total rebounds, eighth with 421 defensive rebounds, and just shy of the top-10 with 196 offensive boards. So far this season Gordon is averaging 6.5 rebounds per game, and has recorded double-digit rebounds three times (Ohio, Morehead State & Florida Atlantic).
COLEMAN MOVES UP SCORING LIST
Following her 18-point performance at Ohio last time out, Cori Coleman now ranks ninth on the Cleveland State career scoring list with 1,264 points. Coleman, who has notched double-digit points in 11 of the 12 games this season, is averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game. Coleman is one of just 10 Vikings to reach 1,250 career points, and is 36 points shy of becoming the ninth Viking all-time to record 1,300 career points.
…COLEMAN CLOSING IN ON THREE-POINT RECORD
Cori Coleman is closing in on the Cleveland State career three-point record, entering Monday's contest with 178 career three-pointers, just 13 shy of breaking the current record of 190 which is held by Erika Roudebush (1999-03). Coleman has 26 three-pointers so far this season, and ranks third among Horizon League players averaging 2.2 three-pointers per game. Coleman would become the first current Viking to own a CSU career record.
