VIDEO: Postgame Comments
VIDEO: Highlights
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team extended its win streak to four games Thursday evening, posting an 82-74 victory over Valparaiso. With the win, CSU recorded the season sweep of Valparaiso, and now stands at 12-11 overall and 7-3 in league action.
The Viking offense was led by four players in double-figures, including Kiersten Green who had a team-high 19 points against the Crusaders. Imani Gordon added 15 points, Cori Coleman tallied 14, and Khayla Livingston added 12. Olivia Voskuhl – who picked up her second collegiate start Thursday – was just shy of her first double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds and nine points.
Over 60-percent of Cleveland State's offense came from behind-the-arc against Valparaiso, as the Vikings knocked down a season-high 17 three-pointers. The 17 three-pointers ties the CSU single game record, and marks a season-high among Horizon League teams. Seven Vikings posted three-pointers on the game, including Coleman and Livingston who each knocked down four.
During the opening half, CSU shot 50-percent from the floor (16-for-32) and 62-percent from three-point (10-for-16), as the Vikings held the advantage throughout the opening stanza. Heading into the halftime break, CSU held a seven-point lead at 42-35.
Over the first four minutes of the second half, Valparaiso went on an 11-3 run that gave them their first lead of the contest at the 16:36 mark (46-45). The Crusaders were able to hold the advantage over the next 7:08, until Cleveland State rattled off 11 straight points to regain control of the contest, and a five-point lead at 61-56 with 8:38 remaining.
The lead wouldn't last long though, as Valparaiso responded with a 7-0 run of their own to put the score at 63-61, Crusaders. The two teams then traded baskets over the next few possessions, until Cleveland State once again responded with a 9-0 run - including a pair of three-pointers from Voskuhl and Livingston – to gain an eight-point lead (73-65) with just over four minutes left to play.
The Vikings then controlled play for the remaining 4:05, and extended their lead to double-digits for the first time with a pair of free throws from Kiersten Green (80-70) with just 35 seconds left on the clock. Although Valparaiso was able to outscore CSU 4-2 during the final seconds, Cleveland State was still able to come away with the eight-point victory.
For the second straight game CSU tallied 20+ assists, recording 21 helpers on their 29 made field goals. For the game, CSU shot 46-percent from the floor (29-for-63) and 51-percent from behind-the-arc (17-for-33) – their best performance of the season.
The Vikings will close out their four-match homestand on Saturday (Feb. 15), hosting Detroit at 1:00 p.m. Saturday's contest will be the first part of a doubleheader, as the CSU men's team will host Green Bay at 4:00 p.m.
