HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Cleveland State women's basketball team played its first road contest of the 2021-22 season Friday evening, picking up a 63-52 victory at Northern Kentucky to remain perfect on the season.
Game Stats
· Destiny Leo led the Viking offense with 31 points on the night.
· Barbara Zieniewska grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, while Brittni Moore added nine boards.
· The Vikings shot 40-percent from the floor on the game, including a .733 clip from Destiny Leo (11-for-15).
· As a team, Cleveland State recorded nine steals against NKU, including three from Destiny Leo and two from Barbara Zieniewska.
· The Viking defense forced NKU into 20 turnovers, turning these miscues into 17 points.
Game Notes
· Destiny Leo recorded her fifth 20+ point game of the season Friday, notching a career-high with her 31 points.
· Barbara Zieniewska notched her second straight double-digit rebounding game with her 10 boards against the Norse.
· Friday's game marked the first road game of the season for the Vikings.
· Along with Sunday's forfeit victory against Wright State, the Vikings are now 8-0 on the season, and 4-0 in league play.
The Game
After taking a 33-29 lead into the halftime break, Cleveland State was able to overcome a slow start to the third quarter and extended its lead to 38-31 following a Nadia Dumas layup off of a Gabriella Smith steal and a Destiny Leo three-pointer just 47 seconds later.
Although NKU responded with a basket of their own, the Vikings added to their lead midway through the frame, as a pair of layups from Smith and Dumas gave Cleveland State a nine-point lead at 42-33 with 3:32 left on the clock.
The two teams then traded baskets over the next few plays, until a Leo and-one play put the Vikings up by double-digits at 47-37 with just under two minutes left in the quarter.
The Vikings would go on to close out the frame with a 47-38 advantage.
Despite NKU opening the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run – tying the game at 49-49 midway through the frame – the Vikings were able to regain control at the 3:09 mark, when Leo converted her fourth three-pointer of the game to put the Vikings up 54-51.
The Vikings then notched the next nine points, putting all of the momentum onto their side, before closing out the game with the 63-52 victory.
Up Next
Cleveland State will have a week off from competition, returning to action on Sunday, December 12 when the Vikings travel to Akron for a 5:00 p.m. contest.
