Contact: Renee Adam
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ATHENS, Ohio - Despite a late push in the final minutes of the contest, the Cleveland State women's basketball team dropped their first contest of the 2012-13 season Tuesday evening, falling at Ohio, 63-56. The Vikings are now 1-1 on the season, while Ohio is now 1-0.
Shalonda Winton led the Vikings with her second straight double-double, posting 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Cori Colemanadded 15 points, three steals and two assists. Imani Gordon notched seven points and four rebounds for the Vikings, withKiersten Green posting three steals, three assists and four rebounds.
The Vikings got off to a strong start, opening the game with a 9-4 advantage at the 13:50 mark on a Winton jumper. Ohio bounced back with a 15-4 run over the next six minutes, gaining a 10-point lead at the 23-13 mark. Throughout the final eight minutes of the first half CSU climbed its way back into the contest, marking a 17-6 run to close out the first stanza, heading into halftime with a one-point lead (30-29).
Cleveland State opened the second half on a 5-0 run, with three points from Gordon and two from Winton, but the Bobcats responded with a 12-6 run that tied the game at 41-41. Ohio then gained their first lead since the 2:44 mark in the first half (43-42) and went on to outscore CSU 15-6 over the next seven minutes to hold a 10-point lead (58-48), tying their largest of the contest.
The Vikings made a late push over the next 1:21, bringing the score within three points after going on a 7-0 run. CSU got points from Winton (2), Green (2), Coleman (2) and Honesty King (1) during this final run. That would be as close as the Vikings would get though, as Ohio pulled away with the seven-point victory after posting five of the final six points.
Cleveland State will remain on the road this weekend, traveling to Illinois for a 3:00 p.m. EST contest on Sunday, November 18.
