CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite a 20-point game from Ashanti Abshaw and a career-high performance from Mariah Miller, the Cleveland State women's basketball team came up short in its 2017-18 season opener Saturday, falling to Ball State, 76-64.
Cleveland State vs. Ball State Box Score
Game Stats
· Ashanti Abshaw led the Viking offense with 22 points, while Jade Ely and Mariah Miller each added 13 points.
· Jade Ely posted four assists on the game.
· Mariah Miller and Shadae Bosley both posted eight rebounds on the game, while Khayla Livingston and Olivia Voskuhl both grabbed seven rebounds.
· As a team, the Vikings recorded 11 steals, including three from Jade Ely, Olivia Voskuhl and Rachel Slaney.
Game Notes
· Mariah Miller recorded a career-high with her 13 points.
· Ashanti Abshaw recorded her first 20-point game of the season and the 22nd of her career.
· Rachel Slaney appeared in her first CSU game, recording three rebounds, three steals and one block in 14 minutes of action.
· The freshmen duo of Anyia Pride and Mariah White played in their first collegiate game.
· Saturday's game marked the 60th consecutive start for Ashanti Abshaw.
· Saturday's game was the first of a three-game homestand for the Vikings, as they will also host Eastern Michigan (November 16) and Marshall (November 19) to begin the season.
The Game
During the opening quarter, Ball State was able to jump out to a quick lead, but an 11-0 run from the Vikings over a stretch of 3:40 gave the Vikings an 11-3 advantage with just under three minutes left in the frame. Although Ball State was able to go on a 10-2 run to close out the quarter, the two teams went into the second frame with the score tied at 13-13.
The Cardinals were once able to gain an advantage early on in the second frame, but another Cleveland State run during the middle of the frame brought the Vikings back within one point at the 19-18 mark, and then a Mariah Miller layup and ensuing free throw put the Vikings back ahead at the 21-19 mark with just under six minutes left to play. The Ball State defense then held the Vikings off the board over the next stretch, as Ball State went on an 8-0 run to regain a 27-21 advantage. The two teams then traded baskets over the final two minutes, as the Vikings went into halftime trailing by just one point at 30-29.
After the halftime break, the two teams traded baskets throughout the majority of the frame, until Ball State went on an 8-2 run to close the frame, taking a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter at 59-47.
Through the first part of the final frame, the Vikings were able to close the gap to five points on a pair of Miller free throws after a 7-0 run, but another run by Ball State extended its lead back to double-digits at 66-56. The Cardinals were then able to hold on to their lead for the rest of the frame, as Ball State pulled away with the 12-point victory.
CSU Career Record Book
· With a blocked shot against Ball State, Shadae Bosley now has 88 on her career, and is just two blocks shy of moving into fifth place in the CSU Career Record Book.
Up Next
· Cleveland State will host Eastern Michigan at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 16.
