Jan. 12, 2012

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Contact: Renee Adam

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - A season-high 29-points from Shalonda Winton and double-digit scoring efforts from Takima Keane, Cori Coleman and Honesty King led the Cleveland State University women's basketball team over UIC Thursday evening, as the Vikings earned an 83-80 victory. With the win CSU is now 7-8 on the season and 2-2 in the Horizon League, while the Flames fall to 9-7 on the year and 2-3 in league action.

Along with 29 points, Winton tallied a game-high 12 rebounds, marking her fifth double-double of the season. King was the second leading scorer for the Vikings Thursday evening, posting 18 points along with four assists. Coleman tallied 13 points and a career-high seven rebounds, while Keane added 12 points and eight assists.

During the opening half, UIC got out to an 18-7 lead just 5:31 into the contest before Winton and Imani Gordon posted back-to-back buckets at the 12:29 mark to bring the Vikings within six points (18-12). Over the next six minutes the Flames extended their lead once again to nine points (28-19) before the Viking offense went on a 13-2 run, taking a two-point lead (32-30) with 2:02 left to play before halftime. Both teams scored four more points in the next two minutes, as CSU ended the half with a two-point lead at 36-34.

CSU opened the second half on a 14-5 run, limiting the Flames to just two field goals throughout the first 5:55 of action. Included in the 14 Viking points were five from Winton and four from Coleman.

UIC was able to close the Viking lead to single digits with a Jasmine Bailey three-pointer at the 10:29 mark, but back-to-back three's from Coleman and King two minutes later gave CSU a 10-point lead with 8:17 left to play.

UIC stayed close for the rest of the contest, eventually coming within two points (66-64) at the 3:08 mark of the second half. CSU responded with seven straight points to gain a nine-point lead at 73-64 with just 4:38 remaining.

Once again UIC kept the pressure on the Vikings, coming within four points four times throughout the final minute of action. Kiersten Green and Keane knocked down three critical free-throws with seconds remaining in the contest, giving CSU a five-point lead before UIC's Kierra Robinson converted a layup at the buzzer for the 83-80 final score.

CSU shot 43-percent from the floor (23-53), including a .520 clip (13-25) during the first half. The Vikings were 28-for-35 from the line, marking the most free-throws made this season, with 10 coming from Winton and nine from King.

The Vikings will continue their brief two-game homestand this Saturday (Jan. 14) when CSU hosts Loyola in a Horizon League matchup. Saturday's contest is slated for a 2:00 p.m. tip.