Feb. 1, 2003

Box Score

CLEVELAND - A 14-0 run midway through the second half propelled Cleveland State (6-13, 4-5 Horizon League) to a 75-66 victory over Butler (4-15, 2-7 HL) Saturday afternoon in Goodman Arena. The Vikings earned a split of the season series after falling to the Bulldogs at the buzzer in overtime Wednesday in Indianapolis.

In the first half, the Vikings went on a 16-2 run to open up a 30-13 lead with 4:47 remaining. However, Butler immediately answered with a 12-2 skein of its own to cut the margin to just seven heading into the locker room. The Bulldogs carried the momentum into the second half, eventually taking a 39-38 advantage with 15:15 left to play. The teams traded baskets for the next five minutes until CSU's second big run put the game out of reach.

Sophomore center Mandy Sichting (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) went 6-for-8 from the floor to lead four Vikings in double-figures with a career-high tying 14 points. Junior forward Shannon Sword (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) added 11 points and 11 rebounds for her third career double-double, while junior forward Ashley Schrock (Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon) finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Erika Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) chipped in 12 points and eight assists.

"We were much more consistent offensively today and people stepped up and made big shots for us," pointed out CSU Head Coach Duffy Burns. "I thought Shannon played great and Mandy gave us a real spark off the bench."

Sophomore forward Angel Mason and sophomore center Cortney Urquhart paced the Bulldogs with 16 points each while Mason grabbed 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Junior guard Lisa Pryor added 14 points and junior guard Nancy Bowden finished with 11 assists.

CSU, which leads the league in field goal percentage defense, shot 44.1 percent from the field while holding Butler to just 36.2 percent shooting. In addition, the Vikings enjoyed a 26-6 margin in bench points.

Cleveland State is in action again on Thursday, Feb. 6 when the Vikings host No. 21 UW-Green Bay at 7:00 p.m.