YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team returned to the court Thursday evening, picking up a 77-68 victory at Youngstown State to remain perfect in Horizon League play. With the win, the Vikings are now 12-1 on the season, and have won a program record 12 straight games.
GAME STAT
· Four Vikings finished the game with double digit points, led by Deja Williams with 15. Destiny Leo and Amele Ngwafang both recorded 14 points, while Brittni Moore added 11 points.
· Brittni Moore and Amele Ngwafang each recorded a team-best nine rebounds, while Barbara Zieniewska notched seven boards.
· Cleveland State combined for eight steals on the game, including three from Deja Williams.
· The Vikings forced YSU into 16 turnovers, turning these miscues into 22 points.
· Cleveland State held a 36-26 advantage in points in the paint.
GAME NOTES
· With the win, the Vikings are now 3-0 to start #HLWBB play for the second straight season.
· The Vikings are now 7-0 during the month of December.
· With the win, the Vikings extended their current win streak to 12 straight games – setting a program record.
THE GAME
After heading into the halftime break trailing by four at 35-31, Brittni Moore was able to bring the Vikings within one at 35-34 less than one minute into the third quarter. Although YSU responded with a basket of its own on the ensuing possession, the Vikings answered with three straight points to tie the game at 37-37.
The two teams then traded baskets over the next few minutes, until a 9-3 run from Cleveland State put the momentum back in the Vikings' favor and put the score at 51-48 following back-to-back baskets from Destiny Leo and Deja Williams.
Another three-pointer from Leo with 1:13 left on the clock gave the Vikings a 54-50 advantage, before Cleveland State closed out the frame with a 58-53 lead following a pair of Barbara Zieniewska free throws in the final seconds.
Zieniewska then carried the momentum into the fourth quarter for the Vikings, as a three-pointer just 40 seconds into the frame put the Vikings up 61-53, before an Amele Ngwafang layup a minute later put Cleveland State up by 10 points at 63-53 with 8:38 left the play.
Cleveland State was then able to withstand a YSU run during the middle of the frame, as another Ngwafang layup at the 2:53 mark put the score at 67-60.
The Vikings then controlled play throughout the rest of the contest, as a perfect 6-for-6 free throw effort from Deja Williams over the final minute, clinched the 77-68 victory for Cleveland State.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will close out the calendar year at Robert Morris on Saturday, December 31 with a 12:00 p.m. contest.