VIDEO: Highlights | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Senior Imani Gordon recorded her 1,000th career point Monday evening, as the Cleveland State women's basketball team defeated Bluefield State, 77-74 to close out non-league play. The victory puts the Vikings at 8-5 heading into the Horizon League slate, including a 6-1 mark at home.
Gordon tallied a team-high 23 points against the Blues, becoming the 26th Viking all-time to notch 1,000 career points. Gordon finished the contest with 1,005 points and joins classmates Cori Coleman and Kiersten Green in the 1,000 point club. This marks the first time in program history that a team has had three players with 1,000 career points.
Along with Gordon, three other Vikings finished with double-figures including Coleman who notched 18 points and nine rebounds. Alexis Eckles was just shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards, while Brooke Smith finished with 13 points, six assists, and three steals.
After going into the halftime break with a 43-32 advantage, the Vikings saw their lead quickly slip away at the start of the second half, as Bluefield State went on a 19-7 run over the first seven minutes to gain a 51-50 lead at the 13:28 mark – their first lead since midway through the first half.
Smith and Gordon put a stop to the run with a 6-0 spurt of their own, giving a five-point advantage back to the Vikings at 56-51 with 11:47 left on the clock. The two teams traded baskets over the next five minutes then, until another 6-0 run put Cleveland State up by six points at 68-62 with just over four minutes left to play.
Bluefield State wasn't done yet though, as the Blues were able to tie the contest twice over the next 2:14 before the Vikings were able to take control of the contest in the closing minutes.
Cleveland State ended the game on a 7-2 run - including a 5-for-6 effort from the free throw line – earning the three-point victory.
As a team, Cleveland State shot 45-percent from the field (31-for-68) and 46-percent from three-point (7-for-15), including a .545 clip from the field and .556 clip from behind-the-arc during the first half.
The Vikings will now turn their attention to Horizon League play, hosting Valparaiso on Thursday (Jan. 8) at 5:00 p.m. Thursday will be a doubleheader for the CSU basketball teams, as the men's team will take on Oakland following the women's contest.
