VIDEO: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Cleveland State had four starters finish with double-digit points Wednesday evening, led by 20 from Imani Gordon, as the Vikings captured a 77-70 victory at Valparaiso. The win improves CSU to 16-10 overall this season and 8-5 in Horizon League play, while Valparaiso falls to 6-20 overall and 2-11 in league play.
Imani Gordon recorded her third double-double out of the last four games, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds against Valparaiso, while Cori Coleman also notched a double-double for the Vikings, notching 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
Alexis Eckles was just shy of a double-double, tallying 18 points and nine rebounds, with Kiersten Green also finishing with double-digits, posting 13 points including a trio of three-pointers. Shadae Bosley added seven points and four boards, while Brooke Smith rounded out the scoring for the Vikings with two points.
Coleman recorded her 1,500th career point against Valparaiso Wednesday evening, finishing the contest with 1,503 and becoming the sixth Viking all-time with 1,500 career points.
Going into the halftime break Cleveland State held a 40-33 advantage, but Valparaiso opened the second half on a 14-8 run over the first 6:27 to close the gap to just one point at 48-47 with 14:33 left on the clock.
A Bosley jumper at the 13:27 mark extended Cleveland State's lead back to three-points at 50-47, but the Crusaders wouldn't back down, as they were able to tie the contest at 52-52 just two minutes later.
The Vikings responded with back-to-back baskets from Eckles to put the score at 56-52, and went on to outscore the Crusaders 11-4 over the next 2:24, gaining a double-digit lead following an Eckles jumper to put the score at 67-56 with 7:26 left on the clock.
Cleveland State was then able to hold at least a five-point lead over the final seven minutes of the contest, as the Vikings closed out the game with a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the free throw line – two from Green and two from Gordon – to earn the 77-70 victory.
As a team, Cleveland State shot 42-percent from the field (29-for-69), and outrebounded the Crusaders 47-45. The Vikings forced the Crusaders into 11 turnovers, and turned those 11 turnovers into 18 points.
Next up for the Vikings will be a 3:00 p.m. EST contest at Milwaukee on Saturday, February 28.
