VIDEO | Kate Peterson Abiad Postgame Comments vs. Niagara
NIAGARA, N.Y. – In the first overtime contest of the season, the Cleveland State women's basketball team came up just short at Niagara Friday afternoon, falling to the Purple Eagles, 73-72. The Vikings now stand at 0-4 on the season.
Game Stats
· Ashanti Abshaw led four Vikings in double-figures with 21 points.
· Adesuwa Aideyman added 17 points, four assists, and two steals.
· Khayla Livingston and Olivia Voskuhl each notched 15 points for the Vikings.
· Olivia Voskuhl was just shy of a double-double, posting a team-high nine rebounds.
· As a team Cleveland State grabbed 10 steals.
· For the contest, Cleveland State shot 49-percent from the field, including 57-percent from behind-the-arc.
Game Notes
· Ashanti Abshaw tallied a career-high with her 21 points at Niagara – posting the first 20-point game of her career.
· This marked the fourth straight game that Cleveland State has tallied double-digit steals this season.
· The Vikings had their best shooting performance of the season against Niagara, posting season-highs with both their field goal and three-point percentages.
The Game
After getting off to a slow start during the first quarter, the Vikings were able to erase a 14-5 deficit, posting a 20-11 run over the end of the first quarter and the start of the second frame to tie the contest at 25-25 with 6:13 left to play. Cleveland State's tying basket during this run came on a Livingston three-pointer – her second of the game.
Over the final minutes of the second frame both teams traded baskets, with Niagara going into the halftime break with a two-point lead at 34-32.
To open the second half, the Vikings went on a 6-3 run, capped off by a pair of Ashanti Abshaw layups, to regain a slim lead at 38-37 with 6:11 left to play during the third quarter. Niagara responded with a 9-3 run of its own, jumping out to a six-point advantage at 47-41 with under three minutes left to play in the third frame. Both teams traded points over the final 2:23 of the third quarter then, with Niagara taking a 51-47 lead into the fourth frame.
Over the opening minutes of the fourth quarter the Vikings were able to battle their way back into the contest, regaining a lead at 59-55 on a Brooke Smith jumper with 4:12 left in regulation. The Vikings were able to hold the advantage for the next 3:50, until the Purple Eagles were able to convert a layup with just 22 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 61-61. Cleveland State's Kayla Patterson had a chance for the winning basket with just seconds remaining, but a strong Niagara defense kept the Vikings off the board and forced the game into overtime.
Niagara opened up the overtime period on a 6-2 run, gaining a 67-63 advantage with 2:48 left on the clock. The Purple Eagles would hold the advantage for the rest of overtime then, as a late rally from the Vikings capped off by an Adesuwa Aideyman three-pointer as time expired fell just one point short.
Up Next
· Cleveland State @ Kent State – Wednesday, December 2 – 7:00 p.m. – Kent, Ohio
