VIDEO: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame
OXFORD, Ohio – Despite a career-high performance from Cori Coleman, the Cleveland State women's basketball team fell at Miami University Sunday afternoon, 91-80. The Vikings now stand at 5-7 on the year, while Miami improves to 4-7.
Coleman led the Vikings with 27 points – including a career-high tying five three-pointers – while Adesuwa Aideyman added 15 points and Kiersten Green tallied 10 points. Imani Gordon was just shy of the double-digit mark, posting nine points, while Brooke Smith tied her career-high with seven.
As a team, the Vikings knocked down 13 three-pointers – which ties the season-high – while it also ranks fifth all-time in program history for three-pointers made in a single game. This also marked the sixth time this season that CSU has tallied at least 10 three-pointers.
In the closing seconds of the first half Coleman and Aideyman hit back-to-back three-pointers, bringing the Vikings within seven (39-32) heading into the halftime break. Over the final 58 seconds of the first half, CSU outscored Miami 6-2 with points from Coleman, Aideyman and Olivia Voskuhl.
The Vikings continued this momentum through the opening minutes of the second half, going on a 7-4 run to come within four points at the 43-39 mark with 16:49 left to play. Miami responded with an 8-0 run of their own over the next 3:08 though, extending their lead to double-digits at the 51-39 mark with 13:24 left in the contest.
The RedHawks were able to hold a double-digit lead over the next six-minute span, until the Vikings went on a 9-3 run to close the gap to single digits at the 7:19 mark. This run – which included four points from Smith, three from Green, and two from Khayla Livingston – put the score at 66-58 Miami. The RedHawks were once again able to extend their lead to double-digits on the following possessions, but a 6-2 CSU run that ended with a Livingston three-pointer brought the Vikings within six (74-68) with just over four minutes left in the contest.
The two teams then traded baskets over the next 2:54, until Miami was able to close out the contest on a 9-7 run, earning the 11-point victory.
Cleveland State tallied a .419 clip from the floor (26-62) against Miami, including a .382 clip from behind-the-arc (13-34). The Vikings tied their season-high with 19 assists against the RedHawks, including six from Green and five from Aideyman.
The Vikings will return to action next Saturday (Jan. 4), as they travel to Vermillion, South Dakota to take on the South Dakota Coyotes. Tip is set for 3:00 p.m. EST.
