VIDEO: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame
RICHMOND, Va. – Despite four players scoring in double-figures for the third time this season, the Cleveland State women's basketball team fell in the final seconds at VCU, dropping a 76-75 contest to the Rams. The Vikings are now 4-5 on the season, while VCU improves to 8-1 overall.
Imani Gordon led the Vikings with 19 points, while Cori Coleman and Kiersten Green each added 13 and Haley Schmitt tallied 12. Khayla Livingston was also one-shy of her career-high, adding eight points for the Vikings. Gordon was just shy of a double-double, adding a team-high nine rebounds, while Green added eight boards and seven assists.
After VCU was quickly able to get out to an 11-5 lead early on in the first half, CSU responded with a 10-2 run, including a pair of three-pointers, that gave CSU a 15-13 lead – its second of the contest. The Rams were able to extend their lead once again at the 26-15 mark, before the Vikings were able to chip away at the lead, and a Brooke Smith three-point play brought the Vikings within one (29-28) with 4:44 left to play in the half. VCU then closed out the half on a 10-4 run, putting the halftime score at 39-32.
To open the second half, VCU outscored the Vikings 7-3, before Coleman and Schmitt converted back-to-back three-pointers, putting the score at 46-41 with 16:57 left to play. Over the next 7:41 VCU was able to control the contest, until the Vikings gained their first lead since the 11:46 mark of the first half with a Livingston layup at the 9:16 mark. Livingston's layup put the score at 62-61, Cleveland State, but it wouldn't last long as the Rams responded with four-straight points to regain control of the contest.
The Vikings then responded with a 5-0 run of their own, gaining their largest lead of the contest at 68-65 with 6:03 left to play. Over the next minute, VCU went on a 5-0 run to regain control of the contest, before a pair of Gordon free throws tied the score at 70-70 with 4:32 remaining.
A VCU three-pointer on the next possession gave the Rams a 73-70 lead, which they then added to with a free throw at the 1:55 mark to gain a four-point advantage (74-70). A Schmitt three-pointer on the ensuing possession – her fourth of the contest – brought the Vikings within one point (74-73) with 1:40 left in the contest.
After a few empty possessions from both teams over the next 1:22, Coleman was able to once again give CSU a one-point lead after converting a pair of free throws, putting the score at 75-74. With just eight seconds remaining, VCU was able to convert a layup off of an inbounds play, giving the one-point lead back to the Rams (76-75) with just five seconds left to play. The Vikings were then able to draw up a play for the closing seconds, but were not able to convert, putting the final score at 76-75, VCU.
The Vikings will continue their brief two-game roadswing on Wednesday (Dec. 18), when they face New Hampshire at 12:00 p.m. Links for live stats and live video are available on the women's basketball schedule on CSUVikings.com.
