April 20, 2011
Contact: Greg Murphy
After losing four seniors from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA tournament, the 2010-11 Cleveland State women's basketball season was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year.
It didn't take long as the squad won 21 games and advanced to the postseason for the third time in the last four years.
Following are highlights from the season...
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
CSU won 21 games, the second most in program history and the second time the Vikings won at least 20 games in a season.
The Vikings advanced to the postseason for the third time in the last four years, earning the top seed in the West Region of the Women's Basketball Invitational.
CSU won its first-ever postseason game, earning a 73-62 win at IPFW in the opening round of the WBI on March 16. The Vikings also hosted their first-ever postseason game on March 19 against Chicago State.
The Vikings went 14-for-14 at the free throw line against UIC on March 5. It was the second most free throws made in a game without a miss in program history.
CSU tied the school record by playing 33 games this season, while setting a single season program record for defensive rebounds (836) and home wins (13).
CSU finished 12-6 in the Horizon League, tying the 2008-09 team for most league wins in a season. In addition, the Vikings tied for second place in the regular season standings, the best finish in program history.
The Vikings totaled 121 blocked shots this year, the second most in a season in school history. Shalonda Winton led the team with 28, while Destinee Blue (24), Shawnita Garland (20) and Janelle Adams (20) allowed CSU to have four players with at least 20 blocks in a season for the first time in school history.
CSU had four players with at least 100 assists, a first in program history. As a team, the Vikings dished out 495 assists, the fourth most in a season in school history. Shawnita Garland led the way with 115 and was followed by Takima Keane (105), Shalonda Winton (104) and Janelle Adams (102).
CSU won eight straight games from Feb. 10 through March 9, the second longest win streak in school history.
CSU won eight road games this year, tied for the second most in program history.
The Vikings opened the season 5-0 for just the second time in school history.
CSU had its fourth straight winning season, a first in program history.
The Vikings advanced to the Horizon League Championship semifinals for the fourth straight season, becoming one of only two teams in the league to do so.
As a team, the Vikings ranked 41st in the nation in assists (15.0) and 48th in field goal percentage (.426).
INDIVIDUAL SINGLE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Shawnita Garland was in the top-10 of six CSU single season categories, including playing a school record 1,270 minutes this year. She played all 40 minutes in 23 games.
Garland also finished the year ranked second on the CSU single season chart for field goal attempts (518), fifth in points (553) and steals (96), sixth in three pointers made (61) and seventh in field goals made (210).
Shalonda Winton became just the fourth player in school history to grab at least 300 rebounds in a season, finishing right on the number. In addition, her 1,221 minutes played were the second most in a season in school history.
CSU had three players record double-doubles in the Nov. 19 win over Niagara, a first in program history. Shalonda Winton had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Shawnita Garland finished with 13 points and 10 boards and Destinee Blue had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Shawnita Garland finished 25th in the nation in steals (2.9) and 68th in scoring (16.8), while Shalonda Winton was 59th in rebounding (9.1).
The Vikings have had three Horizon League Player of the Week award winners this year. Shalonda Winton earned her first two career honors on Nov. 18 and again on Feb. 14, while Shawnita Garland earned her first career award on Feb. 21.
Head coach Kate Peterson Abiad won her 100th career game with a win at Wright State on Feb. 17. She finished the year ranked second on the all-time wins list at CSU with 106, needing 10 more victories to move into first place.
Shawnita Garland went a perfect 8-for-8 from three point in a win over Detroit on Jan. 20 with the eight three pointers setting a school record. Her eight straight makes from three point were one shy of tying the NCAA record for most consecutive three pointers made in a game. In addition, Garland became the 20th player in NCAA history to be perfect from three point in a game with a minimum of seven attempts. She was also one three-point make away from tying the NCAA record for the best perfect game from three point in NCAA history.
Shalonda Winton scored a career-high 31 points in a win at Youngstown State on Jan. 29, shattering her old career-best of 19 points and becoming the 17th player in school history to score 30 points in a game.
Shawnita Garland CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Shawnita Garland concluded one of the greatest careers by a CSU player this year.
Earned first team All-Horizon League honors after being selected to the all-league second team as a sophomore and junior. She became the third player in school history to earn a spot on the all-league team three times.
Was also tabbed the Horizon League co-Defensive Player of the Year this season, the second time she won the award (2008-09).
Garland finished her career ranked fifth on the scoring charts in school history with 1,468 points.
She is ranked third all-time in CSU history with 315 steals, holding three of the top-10 single season marks.
Garland set the CSU record by playing in 129 career games, advancing to the postseason in three of her four seasons (two NCAA appearances and one WBI appearance).
Garland also ranks fifth in field goals made (572), assists (336) and three point field goal percentage (.344), seventh in free throw percentage (.756), ninth in three pointers made (129), 10th in games started (86) and tied for 15th in rebounds (543).
She became the first player in school history to total at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 250 steals for a career.
