Nov. 25, 2006

Final Stats

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Cleveland State ran out of gas after charging back from a 10-point halftime deficit as the Vikings dropped a n 81-68 decision to the College of Charleston in the consolation game of the Long Island Turkey Classic on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, CSU falls to 1-5 on the year, while the Cougars improve to 2-3.

Charleston opened up a 41-31 advantage at the break, turning 17 CSU turnovers into 19 points. Nikki Williams paced the Cougars with 13 points in the first 20 minutes, going 3-for-4 from the three-point line. Jessica Roque kept the Vikings close with 14 points of her own, with an identical 3-for-4 effort from behind the arc.

CSU opened the second stanza with a three-point barrage, knotting the score at 49-49 with 14:38 remaining as Brittany Korth and Jessica Roque both knocked down a pair of triples during the burst. However, CSU appeared to run out of steam as a four-minute dry spell allowed Charleston to push the margin back to double-figures at the 8:16 mark (64-53).

The Vikings would get no close than eight down the stretch, as Charleston made all six of its free throw attempts in the final two minutes.

The Cougars shot 45.5 percent from the floor (30-66) and held a 44 to 34 rebound advantage while limiting the Vikings to a 38.3 percent mark from the floor (23-60).

Jessica Roque finished a game- and career-high 25 points, while adding five assists, four rebounds and four steals to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. Robyn Hoying was the only other CSU player in double-figures, adding 10 points.

Williams led four Charleston players in double-figures with 20 points, while Jade Hughes tallied 19 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Cleveland State returns home to host Buffalo on Tuesday (Nov. 28) at 7:00 p.m. in the Wolstein Center. The Vikings and Bulls have met just once previously, with CSU earning an 80-63 win at Buffalo on Feb. 10, 1994.