LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team opened the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic Monday afternoon, picking up a 72-45 victory over Lindenwood. With the win, the Vikings are now 10-1 overall this season, and have won 10 straight games.

GAME STATS
· Three Vikings finished in double-figures on the day, led by Destiny Leo with 11. Gabriella Smith and Faith Burch both added 10 points each.
· Faith Burch, Carmen Villalobos and Sara Guerreiro all grabbed a team-best seven rebounds, while Aminata Ly recorded six boards.
· As a team, the Vikings recorded 16 assists, including five from Sara Guerreiro.
· Cleveland State combined for 14 steals on the day, with four from Deja Williams and Aminata Ly and three from Carmen Villalobos and Gabriella Smith.
· The Vikings forced Lindenwood into 25 turnovers, turning those miscues into 30 points.

GAME NOTES
· Faith Burch recorded a season-high with her 10 points against Lindenwood, while the seven rebounds tied her season-best.
· All 11 Vikings that saw action got in the scoring column on Monday.
· Monday's 14 steals marked the fifth time this season that Cleveland State has finished with double-figure steals.
· The Vikings are now 5-0 during the month of December.
· Monday's game marked the first meeting between Cleveland State and Lindenwood in program history.
· With the win, the Vikings extended their current win streak to 10 straight games.

THE GAME
The Vikings were able to quickly take control of the game over the opening minutes, as a 9-2 run to start the game gave the Vikings a lead that they would go on to hold for the rest of the contest. After holding a 13-7 lead midway through the quarter, Cleveland State closed out the first 10 minutes of action with six straight points, gaining a 19-7 lead on a pair of Shadiya Thomas free throws in the final minute.

During the first quarter the Vikings forced Lindenwood into 10 turnovers, and recorded five steals.

Cleveland State carried its momentum into the second quarter then, as an Aminata Ly free throw and Brittni Moore layup off a Gabriella Smith steal put the Vikings up 22-7 just over one minute into the frame.

The Vikings went on to hold this lead throughout the rest of the first half, taking a 31-15 advantage into the halftime break.

The Vikings then used a 7-0 run to open the third frame to extend their lead to 38-15 following back-to-back baskets from Amele Ngwafang.

Cleveland State's lead would expand to 32 points at the 54-22 mark over the next seven minutes then, as a pair of layups from Ly and Carmen Villalobos kept the momentum in Cleveland State's favor.

After taking a 55-24 lead into the fourth and final quarter, the Vikings were able to withstand a Lindenwood run over the opening minutes of the frame, regaining a sizeable lead at 65-33 following a Faith Burch offensive rebound and put-back at the 3:45 mark.

Cleveland State then controlled play throughout the rest of the contest, coming away with the 72-45 victory.

UP NEXT
Cleveland State will return to the court tomorrow, facing Campbell in its second game of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic at 7:00 p.m. EST.