VIDEO: Highlights | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team used a 14-0 run late in the second half to secure a 67-63 victory over Wright State Wednesday evening. With the win the Vikings are now 15-9 overall and 7-4 in Horizon League action, while Wright State falls to 19-7 overall and 8-4 in league play.
Once again the Vikings were led offensively by the senior trio of Cori Coleman, Imani Gordon, and Kiersten Green who knocked down 49 of Cleveland State's 67 points. Green had a team-high 23 points – her fourth 20-point game of the season – while Coleman tallied 16 points and Gordon notched 10. Green and Coleman both converted four three-pointers, while Gordon also tallied a shot from behind-the-arc, giving CSU nine for the contest.
For just the third time during league play, the Vikings were able to go into the halftime break with the advantage, as CSU held a 29-28 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.
Coming out of the halftime break, Wright State was quickly able to take control of the contest, as the Raiders went on an 8-0 run over the first 3:09 to gain a seven-point lead at the 36-29 mark. The Vikings responded with a 10-3 run of their own over the next two minutes – including a pair of three-pointers from Green – to tie the contest at 39-39 with 14:33 left on the clock.
The two teams then traded leads over the next few possessions, until Wright State was once again able to gain a nine-point advantage (54-45) with 6:06 left to play. The Vikings weren't done yet though, as another Cleveland State run – this time a 9-0 run over a span of 1:06 – tied the contest once again at 54-54, and an Eckles jumper at the 3:55 mark gave the Vikings a lead (56-54) that they wouldn't relinquish.
Coleman stretched CSU's run to 14-0 at the 2:47 mark then, as she put the Vikings up 59-54 with her fourth three-pointer of the game. The Vikings would hold at least a three-point lead over the final two minutes of the contest, as Cleveland State came away with the 67-63 victory.
Over the final 2:00, Green went 6-for-6 from the free throw line, securing Cleveland State's four-point win.
Next up for the Vikings, they will travel to Detroit for a 2:00 p.m. game on Saturday, February 22.