March 5, 2011
Final Stats
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Shawnita Garland's final regular season game as a Viking went about the same way as most of her previous games. Garland scored 29 on Senior Day as the Cleveland State women's basketball team beat UIC, 79-68, on Saturday afternoon (March 5).
The victory was the 19th of the season for the Vikings (19-10, 12-6 Horizon League), marking the fourth consecutive year that Cleveland State has won at least 19 games. CSU went 19-14 in 2007-08 and 2009-10, making the NCAA tournament both years. The Vikings were also 19-13 in the 2008-09 campaign.
The win also means CSU ties Butler for the second place in the conference. The Bulldogs will be the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League tournament based on their 58-47 win on Saturday over Valparaiso while Cleveland State will be the third seed.
"A second place (regular season) finish is as good as we've been since I've been here," head coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. "It's awesome for our team. Right now we're playing the best we have all season."
Garland's 29 points bring the senior's career total to 1,383, moving her past Mahogany Green (1,366 points from 1997-01) into sixth place on the school's all-time scoring list.
"This was really a perfect day for Shawnita," Peterson Abiad said. "Not only for getting the win, which everyone wants to do on Senior Day, but for having one of the best career days on Senior Day. A lot of players get tight on Senior Day because they're nervous, but she really played the way she's been playing the last few days. I'm so happy for her."
Garland was just one of four CSU players to score in double digits. Destinee Blue had one of her best games as a Viking, pulling down a career-high 17 rebounds, including 14 defensive boards, and scoring 16 points. Janelle Adams had 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds while Shalonda Winton finshed with 10 points, seven assists and six boards.
The win wasn't an easy one for CSU. The two teams played a close first half, featuring eight lead changes and culminating in a 36-35 UIC lead.
"It was a battle," Peterson Abiad said. "I thought UIC had a great game plan, and they came out and really changed our players. We ended up winning on big plays. We had a number of great plays by a number of players in the second half."
After shooting 43.3% in the first half, CSU got hot in the second, making 57.7% of its field goals and shooting 62.5% from three point territory. Garland led the way, going 3-4 from three in the second period, while Adams and Takima Keane also contributed treys.
The Vikings also were perfect on the day from the charity stripe, making all 14 of their attempted free throws.
"I think the players are starting to feel more confident at the end of games," Peterson Abiad said. "I'm hoping by this point in the season we've learned all the lessons we need to, and that we're going to remain confident in our shooting in the postseason."
UIC falls to 14-15 on the year and finishes 9-9 in the Horizon League, meaning the Flames will be the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.
The Vikings' third seed finish means Cleveland State will host a Horizon League Championship quarterfinal game on Wednesday (March 9). CSU will play the tournament's No. 6 seed.
