Contact: Renee Adam
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Despite three players scoring in double-digits and two posting double-doubles, the Cleveland State women's basketball team fell at Big Ten opponent Illinois Sunday, 83-64. The loss drops CSU to 1-2 on the season, while Illinois is now 2-1.
The trio of Shalonda Winton, Kiersten Green and Imani Gordon led the Viking offense, Winton with 24 points, Green with 14 and Gordon with 11. Winton and Gordon also led CSU in rebounding, both tallying double-doubles - Gordon with a career-high 18 boards and Winton with 12 rebounds.
After falling behind 15-0 after the first five minutes of action, CSU battled its way back into the contest bringing the score within two points at the 22-20 mark with 7:52 left in the first half. During this span the Vikings got points from five different players, including six from Gordon and four from Green and Winton.
Illinois responded with a seven-point run, extending their lead back to nine points with 6:33 left. The Illini closed out the first stanza on a 15-10 run, holding a 14-point lead at the halftime break, 44-30.
Cleveland State closed the gap to single digits at the beginning of the second half (45-36), going on a 6-1 run over the first 2:43, but this would be as close as the Vikings would get, as Illinois held a double-digit lead from this point on. CSU was able to come within 10 points (65-55) at the 5:36 mark with a Green free throw, but the Illini recorded back-to-back three-pointers on their next two possessions to gain a 16-point lead (71-55).
Illinois closed out the contest on a 12-9 run over the final 3:55, to claim the 83-64 victory.
As a team, CSU outrebounded Illinois, 50-37 while also posting eight assists and five steals.
Cleveland State will close out its four-game road swing this weekend, traveling to Nevada for the University of Nevada Tournament where they will face Nevada on Friday, November 23 (5:00 p.m. EST) and either Santa Clara or Toledo on Saturday, November 24.
