VIDEO: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team fell at league-leading Green Bay Saturday afternoon, dropping a 74-50 contest against the Phoenix. The Vikings now stand at 13-9 overall this season and 5-4 in Horizon League action, while Green Bay improves to 18-4 overall and 8-1 in league play.
Cori Coleman led the Vikings with 23 points – including a trio of three-pointers – while she also notched a team-high seven rebounds and five steals. Imani Gordon also finished with double-digit points against the Phoenix, finishing with 10 points and six rebounds.
The Vikings were able to close the second half on a 14-8 run over the final 5:20, but it would close the gap to just 11 points, as Green Bay held a 33-22 lead at the halftime break. During the first half, the Vikings notched eight steals and forced Green bay into 13 turnovers.
After Green Bay opened the second half with an 8-2 run over the first 4:12, the Vikings were able to rattle off six straight points over a span of 1:06 to close the gap to just 10 points at 41-31 with 14:21 remaining. During this stretch, Cleveland State got two points from each of the three seniors – Coleman, Gordon, and Kiersten Green.
The Phoenix were then able to extend their lead back to 14 points at 49-35 with just over nine minutes left on the clock, but the Vikings responded with four straight points to close the gap to 10 points once again at 49-39 on a Smith jumper with 8:29 left to play.
This was as close as the Vikings would get though, as Green Bay extended its lead once again at the 5:30 mark (60-41) after an 11-2 run over a span of 2:31. An Alexis Eckles steal and layup at the 4:56 mark stopped the Phoenix run, and was followed by a pair of Gordon free throws, putting the score at 60-45 with 4:19 left to play.
The Phoenix then closed the contest with a 14-5 run over the final four minutes, as Green Bay came away with the 24-point victory.
For the contest, Green Bay shot 53-percent from the field (28-for-52) while Cleveland State managed just a .333 clip (17-for-51). Cleveland State committed 21 turnovers during the contest, with the Phoenix converting them into 27 points.
The Vikings will finally return home on Saturday (Feb. 14), hosting Oakland at 2:00 p.m.
