CLEVELAND, Ohio – For the first time since 2010 the Cleveland State women's basketball team will be playing in the Horizon League Championship game, as a 69-42 victory over No. 3 seed Green Bay in the semifinals clinched the Vikings' third trip to the #HLWBB Championship game. With the win, the Vikings improved to 21-7 overall this year.

Game Stats
· The Viking offense was led by the trio of Isabelle Gradwell, Nadia Dumas and Gabriella Smith. Gradwell and Dumas both finished with 12 points, while Smith posted 11 points.
· Barbara Zieniewska grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds on the game, while Isabelle Gradwell grabbed seven boards and Nadia Dumas recorded six.
· As a team, the Vikings recorded 18 assists on the game, including four from Destiny Leo and Isabelle Gradwell.
· The Vikings shot 48-percent from the floor on the game, including a .667 clip during the fourth quarter.
· The Cleveland State defense held Green Bay to 29-percent shooting from the floor on the game, and forced the Phoenix into 14 turnovers.
· Isabelle Gradwell and Isabelle Geraci both grabbed a team-high three steals on the game.

Game Notes
· Cleveland State will be making its third appearance in the Horizon League Championship game and the first since the 2009-10 season.
· The Vikings are now 6-3 in #HLWBB Tournament play under head coach Chris Kielsmeier.
· Cleveland State's 10 three-pointers marked just the second time this season that the Vikings have converted 10+ shots from behind-the-arc.
· This marks the second straight year that the Vikings have defeated Green Bay in Horizon League Tournament play, while it gives the Vikings a 4-2 record all-time against the Phoenix in #HLWBB Tournament play.

The Game
The Vikings were able to gain an early advantage during the opening minutes of the first quarter, as an Isabelle Gradwell three-pointer at the 6:25 mark put the score at 7-2 Cleveland State. The Vikings then added to their lead with a pair of Amele Ngwafang layups and another Gradwell three-pointer, gaining a 14-5 lead with just under four minutes left to play in the frame.

After the CSU offense went cold for the next few minutes, a Deja Williams three-pointer as time expired in the frame gave the Vikings a 10-point lead at 17-7 after the first 10 minutes of play.

The Vikings were then able to extend their advantage throughout the opening minutes of the second quarter, as a Gabriella Smith three-pointer and a Nadia Dumas layup put the Vikings up by 17 at 26-9 with 5:48 left on the clock.

A strong Cleveland State defense held the Phoenix to single digits until midway through the second frame then, and held off a late Green Bay run, closing out the frame with a Dumas layup and another Williams jumper as time was expiring, taking a 32-19 advantage into the halftime break.

The two teams then traded baskets to begin the third quarter, until back-to-back baskets from Smith and Barbara Zieniewska regained a 17-point lead for the Vikings at 39-22 with 6:16 left on the clock.

Despite Green Bay trimming the lead to just 11 points over the next few minutes, a Williams three-pointer at the 2:41 mark put the momentum back in Cleveland State's favor and gave the Vikings a 44-30 advantage.

After heading into the final 10 minutes of play with a 13-point lead, the Vikings rattled off eight straight points to begin the frame, gaining a 21-point advantage at 55-34 on another Smith three-pointer.

The Vikings were then able to hold a sizeable lead over the next few possessions, as an 11-0 scoring run capped off by a Brittni Moore three-pointer put the Vikings up by 31-points at 69-38 with just under two minutes remaining.

Although the Viking offense went cold over their final possessions of the contest, Cleveland State was still able to come away with the 27-point victory, clinching their spot in the #HLWBB Championship game with a 69-42 victory over Green Bay.

Up Next
The Vikings will now face top-seeded IUPUI in the 2022 KEEPS Horizon League Basketball Championship at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8.