Vikings Defeat Tennessee State, 74-56 In Season Opener

Nov. 11, 2011

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Behind 18 points from senior Destinee Blue and 16 from junior Shalonda Winton the Cleveland State women's basketball team won their season opener against Tennessee State, 74-56 Friday night.

Along with her 16 points, Winton led the Vikings with nine rebounds while Blue added four. In her debut as a Viking, Imani Gordon tallied nine points and three rebounds, while classmate Kiersten Green tallied five points.

After opening the contest on a 7-0 run, including five points from Takima Keane, the Vikings let Tennessee State battle their way back in and eventual take their first lead of the game at the 9-8 mark. The Lady Tigers would regain the lead just once more throughout the game though, as the Vikings took control of the contest with eight minutes left in the first half.

CSU gained their largest lead of the first half two minutes later, as the Vikings earned a 10-point advantage at 24-14 off of a Blue layup and free throw. Cleveland State went into halftime with a 30-23 advantage after back-to-back baskets from Gordon to close the opening stanza.

The Vikings extended their lead to 10 points once again less than two minutes into the second half as CSU posted nine unanswered points stretching over both frames. The Vikings would lead by at least nine for the rest of the contest, including a 21-point advantage at 74-53 with 30 seconds remaining.

The Viking bench was strong once again, as they outscored TSU 22-8 throughout Friday's contest. CSU tallied 16 assists on 24 field goals against the Lady Tigers, led by Janelle Adams who posted five. Gordon was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field Friday night, while Winton was 5-for-8 and Blue was 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

The Vikings will continue their brief two-game homestand Sunday (Nov. 13) when they host Illinois at 2:00 p.m. Prior to Sunday's contest the Vikings will be raising their 2011 WBI Banner to the rafters.

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