Video: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team picked up a 72-64 victory at Oakland Saturday afternoon, controlling play throughout the majority of the contest. With the win, the Vikings are now 12-8 overall this season and 4-3 in Horizon League action.
Alexis Eckles recorded her third double-double out of the last five games, posting 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Kiersten Green finished with 21 points – her third 20-point game of the season – notching 15 points off of three-pointers. Imani Gordon was the final Viking to post double-digit points, posting 15 points along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Allyssa Copley also added a career-high four points and four rebounds off the bench for the Vikings.
Cleveland State had a good defensive effort against the Grizzlies Saturday afternoon, holding Oakland to a .381 clip from the field and a .200 clip from three-point. The Vikings outrebounded the Grizzlies, 41-37 and forced Oakland into 15 turnovers.
On the offensive end, CSU shot 43-percent from the field (24-for-55) and recorded 14 assists and 12 offensive rebounds.
Cleveland State held the advantage for the majority of the first half, going into the halftime break with a three-point lead at the 32-29 mark. The Vikings were then able to go on to hold the lead for the final 35:25 of the contest.
The Vikings opened the second frame on a 6-3 run, extending their lead to six points at the 38-32 mark less than three minutes into the half. CSU was able to hold at least a four-point lead over the next 3:25, until Oakland posted a 6-0 run to close the gap to just one point at the 44-43 mark with 13:19 left on the clock.
Over the next 2:09 both teams were held scoreless, until a jumper from Green at the 11:10 mark put Cleveland State back up by three at 46-43. The Vikings then posted five of the next seven points, extending their lead back to six (51-45) over a span of 1:27.
Both teams were once again held scoreless over the next few possessions, until Gordon went 2-for-2 from the free throw line to give CSU an eight-point advantage (53-45) with just over seven minutes left in the contest. Cleveland State was able to hold at least a four-point lead over the next six minutes then, as the Vikings had an answer for every run that the Grizzlies started.
After the Grizzlies were able to close the gap to four points (63-59) with just 1:16 left on the clock, Cleveland State was forced to score from the free throw line, going 5-for-7 from the charity stripe to gain a 68-61 advantage with just 34 seconds left to play. Brooke Smith then gave CSU a nine-point lead (70-61) after a break-away layup with 20 seconds left, and the Vikings were able to hold on over the closing seconds for the eight-point victory.
Next up for the Vikings will be a 6:00 p.m. EST contest at UIC on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
