VIDEO: Highlights
VIDEO: Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Behind a balanced offensive attack, the Cleveland State women's basketball team handed Youngstown State its first Horizon League loss of the season Saturday, defeating the Penguins, 84-80. With the win the Vikings improve to 10-11 overall and 5-3 in league play, while YSU falls to 10-10 overall and 6-1 in league action.
The Viking offense was powered by five players in double-figures, led by Cori Coleman who notched her second straight 20-point game with 22 points against the Penguins. Kiersten Green notched 19 points, Adesuwa Aideyman tallied 14, Haley Schmitt recorded 12, and Imani Gordon added 11. Along with her 11 points, Gordon also notched a team-high 11 rebounds – marking her seventh double-double of the year.
CSU struggled during the opening frame, shooting just 36-percent from the floor compared to YSU who shot 64-percent from the field to take a 48-40 lead into the halftime break.
During the opening minutes of the second half, CSU was able to outscore the Penguins 11-7, closing the gap to just three-points at the 55-52 mark with 16:07 left on the clock. YSU responded with an 8-3 run of their own though, extending their lead back to eight points (63-55) with 13:41 remaining.
Over the next 2:35 the Vikings went on a 9-0 run, gaining a one-point lead at the 64-63 mark – their first lead since the 15:13 mark of the first half. The lead wouldn't last long though, as the Penguins answered with an 8-1 run of their own, regaining a 71-65 lead with 8:24 left to play.
The Vikings then followed suit, posting a 9-2 run – including six points from Schmitt – to regain control of the contest with just over five minutes left to play (74-73). The two teams then traded points over the next 4:22, until Green was able to tie the contest for the fourth time after converting a pair of free throws, knotting the game at 80-80 with 40 seconds left to play.
On the following possession, Aideyman was able to grab her second steal of the game at half court, and then converted a layup with just 26 seconds remaining, putting the Vikings up, 82-80. The Penguins then had a chance to tie the game once again, but they were not able to convert a layup on their final possession, and were forced to foul CSU – putting Coleman at the line. Coleman sank both of her free throw attempts, giving CSU the four-point victory.
The Vikings had a strong rebounding performance Saturday afternoon, outrebounding the Penguins 46-39. CSU grabbed a season-high 23 offensive boards, which led to 22 second chance points for the Vikings.
CSU also tallied 15 assists, five steals, and two blocks. Eight of the assists came from Green, who tied her career-high in the category.
Coleman, who knocked down a trio of three-pointers against the Penguins, now ranks eighth all-time with 131 three-pointers on her career.
Cleveland State will continue its four-game homestand next Saturday (Feb. 8), starting the second half of league play against Wright State. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m. at the Wolstein Center.
