VIDEO: Highlights
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite a 27-point, 20-rebound double-double from Imani Gordon, the Cleveland State women's basketball team came up short against Oakland Thursday evening, 73-62. The Vikings now stand at 8-10 on the year and 3-2 in league play.
Gordon's double-double was her sixth of the season, while the 20-boards marked a career-high for the junior. It also marked the first time since the 1991-92 season that a Viking has notched 20 rebounds in a single game.
Gordon also added four assists, four steals, and a block against the Grizzlies.
Along with Gordon, Cori Coleman and Kiersten Green also tallied double-digit points – Coleman with 15 and Green with 11.
The Vikings got out to a strong start during the opening half, gaining a 12-point advantage at 22-10 with just over 12 minutes left in the first frame. CSU was able to hold the advantage for the remainder of the half, but Oakland slowly chipped away at the lead, closing the gap to just one point (32-31) at the halftime break.
After closing the gap throughout the closing minutes of the first frame, Oakland was able to gain its first lead of the contest just 25 seconds into the second frame, scoring on their first possession of the half to put the score at 33-32. Over the next seven minutes the Vikings were able to stay close to Oakland, until the Grizzlies posted a 9-0 run that extended their lead to double-digits at 53-43 with 10:40 left to play.
Over the next 4:07 CSU was able to bring the score within single-digits thanks to five points from Coleman, but six points would be as close as the Vikings would get, as Oakland responded with another 7-0 run, giving them a 13-point lead (65-52) with 4:00 left on the clock.
The Grizzlies then controlled play throughout the final four minutes, earning the 11-point victory in the first-ever Horizon League meeting between the two teams.
For the game, Cleveland State shot 37-percent from the floor (24-for-64), while the Grizzlies had a .415 clip from the field (27-for-65). Oakland held the slight rebound advantage, 46-43, while both teams notched 13 assists on the night.
The Vikings will now hit the road for two contests, playing at UIC on Saturday (Jan. 25) and at Valparaiso on Monday (Jan. 27).
