Jan. 3, 2008
Final Stats
Contact: Greg Murphy
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A dominating team effort gave the Vikings a 75-58 win over Loyola to extend CSU's season-high win streak to four on Thursday evening in the Horizon League opener for both teams at the Wolstein Center.
CSU's current run of four consecutive wins is the longest such streak under the tenure of fifth-year head coach Kate Peterson-Abiad, and the first such streak since CSU reeled off four straight late in the 2001-02 season.
CSU improved to 7-5 overall (1-0 HL) this season, while the Ramblers slipped to 2-10 (0-1 HL).
It's a nice feeling to get our fourth straight win, and we are going to savor this victory." said Peterson-Abiad, "But we know that we have to play better basketball and get a little better in order to contend."
The game was closely contested with four lead changes up until the 11:01 mark in the first half, with the Loyola leading at 12-11, when a layup by Brittany Korth gave the Vikings a lead they would not relinquish. The team went on a 22-2 run until 2:29 was left in the first half to open up a 17-point lead at 34-17.
Loyola managed to get a few more points on the board in the final two and a half minutes of the first half to put the score at 38-22 as the teams went into the locker room.
The Vikings kept up the pressure as the second half got underway, opening up a 24 point lead, the largest of the game, following a layup by Dominique Butler at the 16:31 mark.
Loyola made things interesting from that point on, matching CSU basket for basket. CSU's defense held firm, and despite Loyola's best efforts they were unable to cut the deficit to under double digits after getting the score to 55-45 following a missed three point shot by Angel Roque.
"The team has achieved every goal it has set this season," said Peterson-Abiad. "And we are going to continue to work and prepare hard to attain the remainder of our goals."
The Vikings led the game in several statistical categories, notably tallying a plus one assist to turnover ratio compared to a negative six for the Ramblers on the strength of 16 team steals by Cleveland State. CSU also was far more accurate from the field than Loyola, netting 54.9% of its shots compared to the Ramblers' 40.0%.
Korth led all game scorers with 15 points including two of the team's three successful three point attempts, while Butler added 14 points (6-10 shooting) and eight rebounds (3 offensive, 5 defensive).
Keisha Collins, who made 14 points shooting five for eight, led Loyola in their losing effort.
CSU will continue league play when the Vikings host UIC on Saturday, Jan. 5, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Wolstein Center.
