NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a strong first half, the Cleveland State women's basketball team couldn't quite hang on, falling to Belmont, 76-58 in their first road contest of the 2015-16 season.
Game Stats
· Khayla Livingston led the Viking offense with 21 points, while Ashanti Abshaw added 15 points and Brooke Smith tallied 12.
· Olivia Voskuhl grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while Ashanti Abshaw notched five boards.
· The trio of Khayla Livingston, Brooke Smith, and Adesuwa Aideyman all recorded three assists on the game.
· Brooke Smith posted a team-high six steals.
· As a team, Cleveland State recorded 13 steals and forced Belmont into 23 turnovers.
· Cleveland State converted 10 three-pointers against Belmont, including three from Ashanti Abshaw and Khayla Livingston.
Game Notes
· Khayla Livingston's 21 points marked a career-high and the first 20-point game of her career.
· Ashanti Abshaw tallied her third straight double-digit scoring game of the season, and is now averaging 13.0 points per game.
· For the third straight game Cleveland State used a different starting lineup, as Shadae Bosley earned her first career start against the Bruins.
The Game
Cleveland State got out to a hot start to open the contest, gaining a 7-0 advantage just 1:36 into the game. The Vikings were then able to hold the advantage for the remainder of the first quarter, earning a double-digit lead at the 20-9 mark following a Brooke Smith layup. Cleveland State then held the double-digit lead for the next 7:49, stretching between the first and second quarters, until Belmont was able to go on an 8-0 run to close the game to just six points at 27-21 with 4:36 left to play in the first half.
Belmont was able to cut the lead down to four points at the 1:31 mark, but an Ashanti Abshaw three-pointer on Cleveland State's next possession put the lead back to seven points for the Vikings (32-25) with just over one minute left to play in the half. Cleveland State was then able to go into the halftime break with a five point lead, holding a 32-27 advantage.
Despite holding the lead coming out of the halftime break, Cleveland State couldn't keep the momentum on its side, as Belmont opened the third quarter on an 11-4 run, giving the Bruins their first lead of the contest at 38-36 with 5:43 left in the third period. Cleveland State was quickly able to regain the lead though, as a Khayla Livingston three-pointer just 11 seconds later put the Vikings back on top at 39-38.
The two teams then traded baskets to close out the third quarter, with Cleveland State holding a slight 46-45 lead going into the fourth and final period.
Although the Vikings were in control for the majority of the first three quarters, the Vikings weren't able to carry their momentum into the fourth period, as Belmont outscored Cleveland State 31-12 during the final 10 minutes of action.
Belmont regained a lead on their first possession of the fourth quarter at 47-46, and then went on to control play throughout the remainder of the contest, coming away with the 18-point victory.
Up Next
· Cleveland State @ Niagara – Friday, November 27 – 1:00 p.m. – Niagara University, N.Y.
