Vikings Come Up Short Against Milwaukee

Nafeshia Holifield recorded 11 points and eight rebounds against Milwaukee

Posted: Jan 19, 2013

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - For the fifth straight game the Cleveland State women's basketball team had three players reach double-figure points, but the Vikings were unable to stop Milwaukee, falling to the Panthers, 63-60 Saturday afternoon. The loss drops CSU to 10-6 on the season and 2-2 in league play, while Milwaukee improves to 5-10 overall and 1-2 in the Horizon League.

Nafeshia Holifield set career-highs with 11 points and eight rebounds against the Panthers, including five offensive boards. Shalonda Winton led all scorers with 22 points, while Kiersten Green added 12 points which included a pair of three-pointers.

After going into halftime down by five (32-27), the Viking offense was able to make a push during the middle of the second frame to regain the lead. With 9:18 remaining in the contest, CSU went on a 7-0 run, gaining its first lead at 49-46 since the 5:04 mark of the first half. During this run the Vikings got three points from Winton, two from Green and two from Cori Coleman.

The Panthers responded with a 9-2 run of their own, gaining a four-point lead (55-51) with 2:58 remaining on a three-pointer - their 11th of the contest. A Green layup and a six-for-six performance from Winton at the free throw line over the next 1:21 gave the Vikings a two-point advantage at the 59-57 mark though, with just 1:16 left of the clock.

On the next possession Milwaukee tied the game for the ninth time after converting a layup, but an Imani Gordon free throw with 36-seconds left gave the lead back to CSU at 60-59. Over the final 20-seconds the Panthers posted a 3-0 run and tightened up on defense to limit CSU's opportunities at the basket, to earn the three-point victory.

Over the final five minutes, the Vikings were 9-for-10 from the free throw line, including eight from Winton, who was 10-for-11 overall.

For the eighth time this season CSU posted at least 10 steals, notching 12 against the Panthers, including three from Coleman andHonesty King. The Panthers held the slight advantage in the rebounding battle, posting 38 against Cleveland State's 37 - the 11th time this season that CSU has had 35 or more rebounds in a contest.

The Vikings will close out their four-game homestand next Thursday (Jan. 24), hosting Youngstown State at 7:00 p.m.