CLEVELAND, Ohio – For just the third time in program history the Cleveland State women's basketball team was appearing in the Horizon League Championship game Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 61-54 contest to top-seeded IUPUI in the 2022 KEEPS Horizon League Basketball Tournament.

Game Stats
· Destiny Leo and Gabriella Smith both finished the game with 14 points, while Isabella Geraci added eight points.
· Brittni Moore grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Amele Ngwafang recorded five boards.
· The Vikings recorded 10 assists, including three from Gabriella Smith and Isabella Geraci.
· Cleveland State's defense recorded 13 steals on the game, including four from Gabriella Smith and Amele Ngwafang.
· The Vikings forced IUPUI into 20 turnovers, turning these miscues into 23 points.
· Cleveland State's bench outscored IUPUI 20-0 on the game.  

Game Notes
· Cleveland State was making its third appearance in the Horizon League Championship game and the first since the 2009-10 season.
· The Vikings are now 6-4 in #HLWBB Tournament play under head coach Chris Kielsmeier.
· Cleveland State finished #HLWBB Tournament play standing at 21-8 on the season.

The Game
After trailing 21-7 after the first quarter of action, the Vikings were able to work their way back into the contest throughout the second frame, as a Nadia Dumas jumper at the 8:47 mark got the Vikings on the board, before a Deja Williams three-pointer a few minutes later closed the gap to 13 points at 25-12.

Back-to-back baskets from Gabriella Smith and Amele Ngwafang then pulled the Vikings within single digits at the 25-17 mark with just under five minutes left in the quarter, before the two teams traded baskets to close out the half, putting the score at 30-19 IUPUI heading into the halftime break.

Despite IUPUI extending its lead over the opening minutes of the third quarter, the Vikings were able to close the gap to single digits midway through the frame, as a 9-0 run put the score at 42-33 Jaguars with 3:55 on the clock.

IUPUI responded with a three-pointer on its next trip down the floor, but back-to-back three-pointers from Isabella Geraci and Destiny Leo closed out the scoring during the frame and brought the Vikings within six points at 45-39 heading into the fourth a final frame.

Another Geraci three-pointer to open the fourth quarter brought the Vikings within three points less than a minute into the frame then, before the two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions, giving IUPUI a 49-45 lead midway through the quarter.

The Vikings were then able to close the gap to two points multiple times over the next few minutes then, but that would be as close as Cleveland State would get, as IUPUI pulled away late for the 61-54 victory.