VIDEO: Highlights | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team picked up its second overtime victory of the season Saturday afternoon, after Imani Gordon sank a three-point shot as time was expiring in regulation to send the game to overtime. The Vikings earned an 80-74 overtime victory over Oakland, improving to 14-9 overall this season and 6-4 in Horizon League play.
The Vikings were led by the senior trio of Cori Coleman, Imani Gordon, and Kiersten Green – who combined for 62 of Cleveland State's 80 points. Coleman had a team-high 22 points along with 10 rebounds and four assists, while Gordon tallied 21 points and 10 boards. The double-double was the third of the season for Gordon and the second of the year for Coleman.
Green added 19 points to the Viking offense, while Alexis Eckles also finished with double-digits, ending with 10 points and seven boards in just 18 minutes of action.
Throughout the entire first half the Vikings played from behind, as Oakland led the contest for a span of 16:55 and the game was tied for the other 3:05. Entering the halftime break, CSU trailed by three points, 32-29.
To start the second half, the Vikings rattled off five straight points to gain a 34-32 advantage at the 18:34 mark, but the lead wouldn't last long, as Oakland regained a one-point lead (35-34) just 53 seconds later.
The Grizzlies were then able to control play over the next 13:07, and held a five-point advantage at the 63-58 mark with 4:34 left to play. Over the next 2:44 the Vikings responded with five straight points – four from Coleman and one from Gordon – knotting the score at 63-63 with just under two minutes left on the clock.
Both teams were then held scoreless over the next 1:29, until Oakland was able to break the tie with a pair of free throws, putting the score at 65-63 with 21 seconds left to play. After a few missed free throws from both teams over the next 15 seconds, the Grizzlies extended their lead to three points (66-63) with a converted free throw with just six seconds remaining.
After a Cleveland State timeout, the Vikings had to inbound the ball under the Oakland basket, forcing CSU to drive the ball up the court, with Gordon finding herself open for a three-point basket that banked in with just one second left on the clock. Gordon's third three-pointer of the game sent the contest into overtime, with the score knotted at 66-66.
During the overtime period, Oakland was able to get on the board first, with a layup at the 4:16 mark. That would be the Grizzlies' final lead of the contest though, as Cleveland State knocked down five straight points – all coming from Green – to gain a three-point advantage (71-68) that the Vikings wouldn't relinquish.
Over the final 2:50 of the overtime period, Cleveland State outscored the Grizzlies 9-6 - including seven points from the free throw line - earning the six-point victory.
As a team, Cleveland State grabbed 50 rebounds, marking a season-high and their ninth 40-rebound game of the year. CSU also notched 15 assists, seven steals, and four blocks on the game.
The Vikings shot 42-percent from the floor (28-for-66), including a .500 clip during both the second half (15-for-30) and overtime period (3-for-6).
Next up for the Vikings will be a 7:00 p.m. contest against Wright State on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Wolstein Center.
