CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team returned to the Wolstein Center to begin the New Year Friday evening, picking up a 74-56 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne. With the win, the Vikings remained perfect in #HLWBB play at 5-0, while they improved to 14-1 on the season – extending their win streak to 14 straight games.
GAME STATS
· Destiny Leo and Amele Ngwafang both finished with 16 points on the game, while Brittni Moore added 14 points.
· Amele Ngwafang recorded a team-best 15 rebounds, helping the Vikings hold a 42-33 advantage on the boards against Purdue Fort Wayne.
· As a team, the Vikings recorded 18 assists on 27 made field goals, including five from Barbara Zieniewska and three each from Amele Ngwafang and Destiny Leo.
· Cleveland State shot 45-percent from the floor (27-for-59) on the game, including a .588 clip during the first quarter (10-for-17).
· The Vikings held a 42-14 edge in points in the paint.
GAME NOTES
· Amele Ngwafang recorded her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
· Destiny Leo moved into a tie for seventh place in the CSU Career Record Book with 163 career three-pointers after knocking down two against Purdue Fort Wayne.
· The 18 assists marked the 11th time this season that the Vikings tallied 10+ assists.
· Cleveland State is now 7-0 at home this season.
· With the win, the Vikings are now 5-0 to start #HLWBB play for the first time in program history.
· With the win, the Vikings extended their current win streak to 14 straight games – a program record.
THE GAME
After opening the contest on an 11-0 run, the Vikings extended their lead to 24-5 after the first quarter, and went on to hold a 39-17 advantage at the halftime break.
During the first half, Amele Ngwafang led the Vikings with 10 points and six rebounds in just 10 minutes played, while Destiny Leo finished the first two quarters with eight points and four steals.
The Vikings were then able to withstand a third-quarter run from Purdue Fort Wayne, as they entered the final 10 minutes of play with a 54-36 lead.
A Jordana Reisma layup put the Vikings on the board first to open the final quarter then, extending Cleveland State's lead to 20 points at 56-36. The two teams then traded baskets over the next few possessions, until back-to-back baskets from Brittni Moore put the Vikings up 62-43 at the 6:01 mark.
The Vikings then maintained control throughout the final part of the fourth quarter, coming away with the 75-56 victory to remain perfect in Horizon League play.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will close out the weekend on Sunday, January 8, hosting IUPUI at 2:00 p.m. inside the Wolstein Center.
