CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team returned to Horizon League play Monday, dropping a 70-63 contest against YSU.

Game Stats
-Izabella Zingaro and Macey Fegan both finished with 14 points, while Jada Leonard added 12.
-Paula Pique recorded eight rebounds, while Izabella Zingaro and Sarah Hurley both grabbed seven boards.
-The Vikings combined for 13 assists, including three each from Macey Fegan and Paula Pique.

Game Notes
-Jada Leonard extended her streak of straight games with at least one steal, finishing with four on the day.

The Game
After trailing by two points at the halftime break at 23-21, the Vikings were able to swing the momentum into their favor at the start of the third quarter, as a Paula Pique three-pointer just 15 seconds into the frame put the Vikings up 24-23. This lead wouldn't last long though, as YSU answered with a three-pointer of its own on the ensuing possession to put the Penguins back up 26-24.

Although an Izabella Zingaro free throw and Macey Fegan layup put the Vikings back on top at 27-26, YSU answered with an 8-0 run to regain control at 34-27 midway through the quarter. The two teams then traded baskets throughout the rest of the frame, with YSU holding a 42-38 edge entering the fourth quarter.

Following a 6-3 run from YSU to open the fourth quarter, a Fegan layup at the 7:06 mark closed the gap to five points at 48-43. Over the next few minutes, YSU extended its lead to double-digits, before a pair of three-pointers from Fegan and Pique closed the gap to 60-53 with just over two minutes left on the clock.

Despite Youngstown State being able to extend its lead once again to double-digits at 66-56, the Vikings responded with a Pique three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Zingaro and Ayisse Magassa to close the gap to 66-61, before the Penguins closed out the contest on a 4-2 run to pull away with the 70-63 victory.

Up Next
Cleveland State will begin the New Year on the road, traveling to Green Bay on Friday, January 2.