Contact: Renee Adam
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - With 29 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists Shalonda Winton became the fourth player in Cleveland State women's basketball history to record a triple-double, leading the Vikings past Miami (Ohio), 87-75. Saturday's win was the third straight for CSU and marked the first time that the Vikings have been victorious against Miami in program history. CSU is now 4-4 on the season, while the Redhawks fall to 5-4.
Winton's triple-double against Miami marks the sixth all-time in program history and the first since the 2002-03 season when Ashley Schrock tallied 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Wright State. As of December 2, Winton is just the second player in the country to notch a triple-double this season.
Along with Winton CSU had four other players score in double-figures, including Kiersten Green who set a career-high with 17 points along with two assists and four steals. Cori Coleman and Honesty King each added 15 points, while Haley Schmitt posted 11 points on a 4-for-4 night from the field.
With a trio of three-pointers from Green, Winton and Coleman the Vikings were able to jump out to an 11-0 lead just 2:48 into the contest and held the advantage for the remainder of the game. The Redhawks, who committed four turnovers in the first 3:11, were finally able to get on the board at the 16:14 mark with a Kirsten Olowinski jumper.
Miami then posted a 9-3 run over the next five minutes to come within three points at 14-11, but Winton responded with a three-pointer on the following CSU possession to extend CSU's lead back to six (17-11). After the two teams traded baskets over the next 4:13 a Green steal and layup at the 5:09 mark gave CSU its first double-digit lead of the game at 26-15. The Redhawks were able to close out the first half with a slight 13-11 advantage, but a Winton three-pointer with just two seconds left on the clock sent the Vikings into halftime with a nine-point lead at 37-28.
The Redhawks opened the second half on an 8-3 run and were eventually able to close the gap to four at the 44-40 mark, before Coleman notched a four-point play to once again give CSU a seven point lead (47-40). Coleman, who was one of four Vikings with multiple three-pointers against Miami, converted her second of the contest at the 15:05 mark and then converted her free throw after being fouled on the play.
After recording eight of the next nine points, Miami was able to cut the deficit to one at the 13:08 mark (49-48), but the Vikings answered with a 6-1 run of their own, to once again gain a six-point lead (55-49) with 10:31 left to play.
Cleveland State controlled play for the rest of the contest, and was able to gain a 14-point lead - the largest of the contest - at the 3:58 mark with a pair of Winton free throws. The Redhawks were able to cut the lead to single digits four more times over the final 3:15, but the Vikings closed out the contest on an 8-5 run, earning the 87-75 victory.
The Vikings had an excellent offensive performance against Miami, shooting 49-percent from the floor (27-for-55), including a 57-percent mark from three-point (12-for-21) - their best three-point field goal percentage since the 2010-11 season. CSU was also 21-for-25 from the free throw line (.840), with four players converting all of their free throw attempts - Coleman (3-3), Green (2-2), King (2-2) and Schmitt (2-2).
Cleveland State had a season-high 19 assists on its 27 field goals, while also recording 10 steals -marking the fifth game this season with at least 10 steals.
Next up for the Vikings will be a road contest at Tennessee State on Sunday, December 16. CSU will take on the Tigers at 3:00 p.m. EST, with live stats and live video available on the women's basketball schedule page at CSUVikings.com.
