ANN ARBOR, Mich. – After advancing to the postseason for the first time in five seasons, the Cleveland State women's basketball team fell at Michigan, 72-50 Wednesday evening in the First Round of the WNIT.
Cleveland State was making its first appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, after earning an at-large bid into this year's 64-team field.
The Vikings finish the 2014-15 season with a 19-13 record – their best season in recent years. CSU recorded 19 wins for the fifth time under head coach Kate Peterson Abiad, with 14 of them coming at home – marking a program record.
The senior class of Cori Coleman, Imani Gordon, and Kiersten Green finished the contest with 37 of Cleveland State's 50 points, and finished their Viking careers as the highest scoring senior class under Peterson Abiad averaging 11.5 points per game throughout their four years.
Cleveland State also got offensive input from Brooke Smith (9 pts), Chrishna Butler (2 pts), Alexis Eckles (1 pt), and Allison Mitchell (1 pt). Eckles grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Coleman and Smith each notched eight boards.
Michigan got out to a 21-3 lead just six minutes into the first half, and then went on to control play throughout the rest of the frame taking a 36-20 advantage into the halftime break.
During the opening frame the senior trio of Coleman, Gordon, and Green were the only Vikings to score, Coleman finishing with nine points, Green with six, and Gordon with five.
Just four minutes into the second half the Wolverines were able to extend their lead to 20 points, and then held at least a 20-point advantage for the remainder of the contest. Despite the Vikings posting a mini 7-4 run over the final 2:18, Michigan was able to come away with the 72-50 victory.
