Nov. 28, 2006

Final Stats

CLEVELAND - It wasn't pretty, but Cleveland State will take it, as the Vikings snapped a two-game losing streak with a 55-47 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday night in the Wolstein Center. CSU moved to within one game of matching the NCAA record with a three-pointer in 393 consecutive contests -- but just barely -- as Jessica Roque knocked down the Vikings' only triple with 6:11 remaining in the game.

Both teams struggled to find the mark from anywhere on the court, as CSU shot 33.9 percent from the floor (20-59), 12.5 percent from the three-point line (1-8) and 56.0 percent from the free throw line (14-25). As low as those numbers were, the Bulls had an even worse time finding the bottom of the net, going 17-for-56 from the floor (30.4 pct.), 2-for-13 from three-point (15.4) and 11-for-24 from the line (45.8).

"This was a really good win in a game that we needed," CSU head coach Kate Peterson said. "I was pleased with our effort and our ability to overcome a poor shooting night.

"This was the first game we've won this year with our defense. It's great to finally have our full roster because it allows us to keep people fresh and put some different combinations on the floor."

Stephaine Crosley paced the Vikings (2-5) with 13 points and five rebounds, while Nicole Thomas added eight points and six boards. Playing for the first time in four games, Dominique Butler tallied five points, five rebounds and a career-high four blocks and Stephanie Youdath finished with six points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks in her first significant action in a CSU uniform.

Heather Turner led Buffalo (2-5) with a game-high 15 points and seven rebounds, while teammate Kourtney Brown notched 12 points and a game-high nine boards.

The first half was a low scoring affair as both teams connecting on less than a third of their field goal attempts. Early on, CSU went ahead 6-5 on a Crosley lay-up at the 17:20 mark only to go the next seven minutes without a basket. However, Buffalo was unable to take advantage of the dry spell, managing just a 14-9 advantage midway through the stanza.

A Natalie Miller jumper at the 10:16 mark ended the drought and spurred on a 10-0 run that put the Vikings ahead by five (19-14) with 5:50 remaining in the half. CSU would struggle for the remainder of the half as the Bulls closed on a 7-2 run to send the teams into the locker room knotted at 21-21.

The teams battled back and forth in the final 20 minutes, with neither team able to forge more than a four-point lead for the first 16 minutes of the stanza. With the score knotted at 42-42 at the 6:18 mark, Jessica Roque's triple put the Vikings ahead by three. Following a Buffalo free throw, Crosley and Thomas connected to put CSU up by six (49-43) with 3:54 remaining.

After another Bulls' free throw, Crosley hit another jumper and Brittany Korth added a pair of free throws to give the Vikings an insurmountable 53-44 advantage with 46 seconds left to play. CSU held Buffalo to just one field goal over the game's final six minutes.

The Vikings are in action again on Saturday (Dec. 2) when they travel to Toledo for a 7:00 p.m. contest.