CLEVELAND, Ohio – With five players scoring in double figures led by Kiersten Green with 16, the Cleveland State women's basketball team came away with a 76-48 victory over Lake Erie College Thursday evening. The win puts CSU at 1-1 on the season, and keeps the Vikings perfect against Lake Erie all-time.
Along with Green, Cori Coleman (14 points), Olivia Voskuhl (12), Haley Schmitt (11), and Imani Gordon (10) also notched double-digit points for the Vikings. Voskuhl, who scored all 12 points off the bench, was three-for-three from behind the arc and also grabbed two rebounds and three steals. Coleman, who was 6-for-9 from the field against the Storm also added seven rebounds and a career-high seven steals.
After Lake Erie was able to keep the game close during the opening half, Cleveland State went on an 11-2 run over the first four minutes of the second frame, gaining a double-digit lead at 39-23. During this stretch the Vikings posted four of their 27 steals – which set a Wolstein Center record and ranks second all-time in program history.
From here the Vikings held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest, and gained their first 20-point advantage at the 13:56 mark when Green converted a three-point play. Over the next 3:06 the two teams traded points, including an unconventional five-point play from Olivia Voskuhl. After knocking down her third three-pointer of the game at the 10:35 mark, Voskuhl was fouled after the shot and awarded a 1-and-1 at the free throw line. Voskuhl , who was 3-for-4 from the line, sank both free throws to give CSU a 57-35 advantage.
The Storm responded with a quick 9-5 run, but it was soon halted with 11 straight points from the Vikings. During this 11-0 run, CSU got five points from the free throw line and three from a Chrishna Butler three-pointer – her first collegiate points. Over the final minute Lake Erie was able to knock down back-to-back jumpers, putting the final score at 76-48.
As a team, CSU shot 43-percent from the floor (26-60), including a 50-percent mark from three-point (8-16). The Vikings also added 14 assists – a career-high five from Imani Gordon – five blocks and 30 rebounds. The Cleveland State bench picked up 25 points against the Storm.
The Vikings will continue their four-game homestand on Sunday (November 17), hosting Eastern Michigan at 2:00 p.m.
