VIDEO: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
*Shoutout to Coach P. who was a trooper and did her postgame interview outside of UIC Pavilion in the chilly Chicago weather...sometimes you just have to work with what you have!
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team picked up its first overtime victory of the season Wednesday evening, earning a 75-73 victory over UIC. The win, which marked the third straight for the Vikings, puts CSU at 13-8 overall this season and 5-3 in Horizon League play. UIC falls to 13-8 overall and 3-5 in league action.
Imani Gordon tallied a team-high 23 points against the Flames, while Cori Coleman added 18 points and Alexis Eckles notched another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Brooke Smith also recorded double-digit points for the Vikings, notching 13 points along with five rebounds and five assists.
For the contest, CSU shot 43-percent from the field (25-for-57), including a .520 clip during the second half (13-for-25). The Viking defense held UIC to a .373 clip from the field (28-for-75), and forced 15 turnovers.
Cleveland State notched 19 assists on its 25 made field goals, and grabbed 40 rebounds and tallied 10 steals.
After a back and forth start to the contest, UIC held a slight 21-20 advantage over the Vikings at the 5:24 mark of the first half, but then went on to outscore Cleveland State 13-4 over the final 3:25 to go into the halftime break with a 34-24 lead.
To open the second half the Vikings went on an 8-2 run over the first 2:13, forcing a UIC timeout with the score at 36-32 Flames. Out of the timeout, Cleveland State converted a pair of three-point plays – a three-pointer from Coleman and an and-one from Gordon – to bring the Vikings within one point at 39-38 with 15:40 left on the clock.
Cleveland State was then able to stay within striking distance over the next eight minutes, until back-to-back baskets from Alexis Eckles tied the contest at 49-49 with 7:41 left to play. The Flames were able to regain a two-point lead on the next possession, but another Eckles field goal tied the contest once again at 51-51 with 7:21 left on the clock.
The Vikings then went on a 9-3 run, with five points coming from Coleman, to gain control of the contest and a six-point lead at 60-54 with 4:47 left to play.
Cleveland State's advantage wouldn't last long though, as the Flames responded with a 7-1 run of their own to tie the contest for the fifth time at 61-61 with just under three minutes left on the clock. A perfect 4-for-4 performance from Brooke Smith from the free throw line on the next two possessions gave the advantage back to the Vikings then, as CSU held a 65-61 advantage with 2:05 left to play.
The two teams then traded baskets over the next few possessions, until UIC went on a 5-1 run to close regulation, putting the score at 68-68 after 40-minutes of action.
The Vikings were the first on the board during the overtime period, as a Gordon layup gave CSU a 70-68 advantage with 4:18 left to play. UIC then evened the score on the next possession, before the Vikings gained a four-point lead (74-70) with 1:38 left on the clock. CSU's lead came from a pair of free throws from Smith and an Eckles jumper.
With just 1:18 remaining, the Flames were able to convert a three-pointer to come within one point (74-73), but that would be as close as they would come as the Viking defense held them scoreless over the final minute to come away with the two-point victory.
The Vikings will wrap up their three-game roadswing on Saturday (Feb. 7), traveling to Green Bay for a 2:00 p.m. EST contest.
