ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team opened up Horizon League play Saturday afternoon, falling at Oakland, 79-69. The Vikings are now 3-8 overall this season and 0-1 in Horizon League play.
Game Stats
· Four Vikings finished with double-digit points, led by Ashanti Abshaw who posted 20. Khayla Livingston notched 15 points, Olivia Voskuhl notched 13 and Brooke Smith added 11.
· Ashanti Abshaw posted a team-high 13 rebounds, posting her fourth double-double of the year.
· Brooke Smith also tallied seven rebounds, eight assists, and eight steals on the game.
· Shadae Bosley finished with seven points and seven rebounds.
· As a team, Cleveland State recorded 17 assists on 24 made field goals.
· The Vikings grabbed 13 steals and forced Oakland into 18 turnovers.
Game Notes
· Alexis Eckles played in her first game of the season after a preseason injury sidelined her for the non-league slate – posting eight rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes of action.
· Ashanti Abshaw eclipsed 20 points for the third time this season.
· Brooke Smith posted career-highs with her eight assists and eight steals.
· The Vikings have now tallied double-digit steals in nine of their 11 games this season.
· Cleveland State outrebounded its opponent for just the third time this season, grabbing 47 boards including 20 offensive rebounds.
The Game
Cleveland State was able to get out to an early lead against the Golden Grizzlies, gaining a 16-10 advantage at the 5:30 mark of the opening quarter, following a 6-0 run with baskets from Khayla Livingston, Ashanti Abshaw, and Brooke Smith. The Vikings were able to control play throughout the rest of the first quarter then, finishing with a 21-20 advantage. Cleveland State was 10-for-17 from the field during the first 10 minutes of play, with Smith recording six of CSU's seven assists during the frame.
The two teams traded leads throughout the second quarter, with Cleveland State finishing the frame on an 11-4 run over the final 3:30 to head into halftime with a one-point advantage at 35-34.
After going into the halftime break with a 35-34 advantage, the Vikings were held scoreless over the first 3:25 of the third quarter, as Oakland went on a 7-0 run to regain a 41-35 lead just three minutes into the second half. The Golden Grizzlies then went on to gain a double-digit advantage at the 3:11 mark of the third frame, and closed out the quarter with a 58-47 advantage after the Vikings were limited to just 12 points during the third frame.
Despite 22 points from the Vikings during the final 10 minutes of action, the Golden Grizzlies were able to hold their double-digit advantage throughout the fourth quarter, coming away with the 79-69 victory.
Up Next
· Cleveland State @ Detroit – Monday, January 4 – 5:00 p.m. – Detroit, Mich.
