CLEVELAND, Ohio – Thanks to a 52-point second half, the Cleveland State women's basketball team was able to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit Sunday, picking up an 85-76 victory over Marshall. With the win, the Vikings improve to 2-1 on the season and have won back-to-back games to close out their season-opening homestand.
Cleveland State vs. Marshall Box Score
Game Stats
• Four Vikings finished the game with double-figure points, led by Ashanti Abshaw with 25.
• Olivia Voskuhl chipped in 16 points, while Khayla Livingston added 13 and Shadae Bosley recorded 12.
• Olivia Voskuhl grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Mariah Miller added seven boards and Shadae Bosley posted five.
• As a team, the Vikings recorded 17 assists, including nine from Khayla Livingston.
• Shadae Bosley recorded two blocked shots on the game.
• The trio of Shadae Bosley, Ashanti Abshaw and Jade Ely all recorded two steals.
Game Notes
• Ashanti Abshaw has now recorded 20+ points in all three games this season, and has recorded 24 20-point games on her career.
• Khayla Livingston tied a career-high with her nine assists against Marshall.
• Shadae Bosley has tallied at least one block in all three games this season.
• Olivia Voskuhl was just shy of recording a double-double on the game, with 16 points and nine rebounds.
• Sunday marked the second time this season that the Vikings have shot at least 50-percent from the floor, ending right on the number against Marshall.
The Game
After going into the halftime break trailing by 10 points at the 43-33 mark, Cleveland State responded during the opening minutes of the third quarter, going on an 8-3 run to close the gap to just five points at 46-41 with 7:29 left on the clock. During this span, the Vikings got points from Khayla Livingston, Shadae Bosley and Ashanti Abshaw and key defensive rebounds from Jade Ely and Olivia Voskuhl.
The Vikings continued to chip away at the Marshall lead over the next three minutes then, gaining their first lead since the start of the second frame at 52-51 on an Abshaw layup. Cleveland State then closed out the frame on a 13-2 run – including back-to-back baskets from Voskuhl in the final 30 seconds – gaining a 12-point advantage at the 65-53 mark heading into the fourth quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter the Vikings were able to add to their lead with a pair of Mariah Miller free throws, but Marshall responded and came back within seven points at the 71-64 mark before a Rachel Slaney jumper and Bosley layup put the Vikings back up by double-digits at 75-64. The two teams then traded baskets over the next three minutes, with Cleveland State owning a 78-71 advantage with just one minute left to play. Both teams were then forced to the free throw line over the closing minute of action, with Cleveland State converting seven of its free throws – including a perfect 4-for-4 effort from Abshaw – to clinch the 85-76 victory.
Livingston 1,000-Point Tracker
• After posting 13 points against Marshall, Khayla Livingston is now just 15 points shy of notching 1,000 for her career. Livingston would become the 28th Viking all-time to reach the milestone.
Up Next
• Cleveland State will hit the road for the first time during the 2017-18 season, traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada for the South Point Shootout. The Vikings will take on Saint Louis (Friday, November 24) and Louisiana (Sunday, November 26).
