CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team closed out the non-league portion of its schedule Wednesday evening, dropping a heartbreaking 67-65 decision to Bradley. The Vikings now stand at 3-8 overall this year.

Bradley 67, Cleveland State 65 PDF Box Score

Starting Five
· Crockett, Slaney, Braxton, Gradwell, White

Game Stats
· Four Vikings finished the game with double-digit points, led by Mariah White with 22 points. Mariah Miller added 17 points, while JaMiya Braxton recorded 11 and Savanna Crockett chipped in 10.

· Savanna Crockett led Cleveland State's rebounding efforts, grabbing 14 boards, while Mariah White tallied seven and Isabella Gradwell and JaMiya Braxton both notched five.

· Mariah White finished with three assists on the game, while Savanna Crockett and Rachel Slaney both recorded two.

· The Vikings recorded three blocked shots as a team, two from Savanna Crockett and one from Isabelle Gradwell.  

Game Notes
· With her 22 points against Bradley, Mariah White recorded the second 20-point game of her career, and was just one point shy of tying her career-high.

· Savanna Crockett recorded her sixth double-double of the year, finishing with 10 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds.

· Mariah Miller returned to the lineup against the Braves, finishing with 17 points and three rebounds.

· Isabelle Gradwell made an appearance in the starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career.

· Wednesday's game marked the final non-league contest for the Vikings, as Cleveland State finished the first part of the season with a 3-8 mark.

The Game
During the opening quarter both teams traded baskets throughout the first five minutes, but a 12-2 run for the Vikings over the final 4:32 gave Cleveland State a 21-13 lead after the first 10 minutes of play. The Vikings were then able to extend this lead with a JaMiya Braxton three-pointer just 12 seconds into the second frame, gaining a 24-13 advantage in the early part of the second quarter.

Bradley responded with an 11-2 run over the next 2:22, closing the gap to just two points at 26-24. A trio of free throws from Mariah White and Mariah Miller extended Cleveland State's lead once again at the 5:49 mark, and then the Vikings were able to gain a double-digit lead following a White layup to put the score at 34-24 with 2:51 left on the clock. The two teams then traded baskets over the final three minutes of the first half, with Cleveland State taking a 37-29 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams played an even third quarter then, as the Vikings held an eight-point lead at 48-40 with just 10 minutes left in regulation.

To begin the fourth quarter, Bradley went on a 13-6 run to come within one point at 54-53, but a pair of free throws from Savanna Crockett put the Vikings back up by three points with 4:25 left on the clock. Just 40 seconds later, Bradley was able to tie the contest at 56-56, marking the first time that Cleveland State did not hold the advantage since the first quarter.

Bradley was then able to gain a slight 57-56 lead at the 3:06 mark following a converted free throw, but a pair of Miller free throws put Cleveland State back on top 58-57 with 2:38 to play.

That would be the final time that Cleveland State would hold the advantage in the contest though, as Bradley regained a three-point lead at 61-58 following a 4-0 run. The Braves were then able to hold the advantage until there was just 18 seconds left on the clock when a Miller layup tied the contest once again at 65-65. Bradley was able to convert a jumper on the ensuing possession though, and a final shot as time expired from Miller went just wide to give the Braves the 67-65 victory.

Up Next
The Vikings will begin Horizon League play with a two-game roadswing, traveling to Oakland (December 28) and Detroit Mercy (December 30).