VIDEO: Highlights | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team clinched a home game in the quarterfinals of the upcoming Horizon League Tournament Wednesday evening, capturing a 73-62 victory over Youngstown State. The win improves CSU to 17-11 overall this season and 9-6 in league play, while YSU falls to 19-9 overall and 8-7 in league action.
Four of Cleveland State's five starters finished the contest with double-digit points Wednesday, led by Imani Gordon who notched 25 for her eighth 20-point performance of the season. Brooke Smith added 12 points, while Kiersten Green notched 11 and Cori Coleman tallied a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Cleveland State shot 50-percent from the field against the Penguins (28-for-56), marking a season-high for the Vikings during league play this season. CSU also outrebounded the Penguins, 43-27, including 16 offensive boards.
Going into the halftime break the Vikings trailed by six, 40-34.
Over the first seven minutes of the second frame the two teams traded baskets, until the Vikings were able to rattle off 11 straight points over a span of 3:56 to regain a three-point lead at 55-52 with 9:26 left on the clock.
A YSU layup at the 8:58 mark snapped CSU's point streak and closed the gap to just one point (55-54) with just under nine minutes left to play. Over the next 3:37 the Vikings outscored the Penguins 9-5, extending their lead back to five-points at 64-59 with 5:21 left to play.
Cleveland State then put its lead at seven points at the 3:04 mark after Allyssa Copley converted a pair of crucial jumpers, putting the score at 68-61 Vikings.
Over the final 2:09 the Vikings were able to outscore the Penguins 5-1 – with all five points coming from the free throw line – to capture the 11-point victory. The 11-point win was the first double-digit win for the Vikings during Horizon League play this season.
Cleveland State forced YSU into 15 turnovers, and turned those turnovers into 26 points.
Alexis Eckles finished the contest with eight points, seven rebounds, and two blocks – giving her 43 blocked shots for the season – a mark that ranks eighth on the CSU single-season chart.
The Vikings will close out the regular season on Saturday (March 7), hosting UIC at 2:00 p.m. Saturday's contest will serve as Senior Day, as the Vikings will celebrate the careers of Cori Coleman, Imani Gordon, and Kiersten Green.
