DES MOINES, Iowa – The Cleveland State women's basketball team played their first of three Kids Day games on the season Tuesday, dropping a 76-71 contest at Drake.
Game Stats
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Silvia Gonzalez led the Viking offense with 20 points, while
Macie Taylor added 19 and
Chloe Oliver added 10.
-Cleveland State combined for 12 three-pointers on the game, including four each from
Macie Taylor and
Silvia Gonzalez.
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Silvia Gonzalez grabbed a team-best seven rebounds, while
Alexa Hocevar and
Chloe Oliver both posted five boards.
-The Vikings combined for 11 assists on the day, including five from
Chloe Oliver.
-Cleveland State posted 12 steals as a team, including three from
Paula Pique.
Game Notes
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Silvia Gonzalez recorded her first 20-point game of the season, marking the second 20-point effort from a Viking this season.
-The 12 steals marks the first time this season that Cleveland State has recorded double-digit steals.
-Cleveland State's 12 three-pointers marks a season-high for the Vikings.
-Tuesday's game marked the first of three Kids Day games for the Vikings this season, and the first of five early tipoffs that the Vikings are scheduled to have during 2026-27.
The Game
After trading baskets over the first few possessions of the game, Cleveland State used a trio of three-pointers from
Chloe Oliver,
Macie Taylor and
Paula Pique to gain a quick 14-7 lead midway through the opening quarter. Although Drake was able to stop the scoring run on its next trip down the floor,
Silvia Gonzalez converted a three-pointer of her own on the ensuing possession to give CSU a 17-9 lead early in the contest.
The Vikings went on to end the first quarter with a 22-17 advantage after an
Annika Corcoran free throw in the final seconds.
Cleveland State carried its momentum into the second quarter then, as a Taylor three-pointer opened the scoring to extend the Viking lead to 25-17 just one minute into the quarter, before a pair of Oliver free throws put the Vikings up by double-digits at 27-17.
This would be the largest lead for the Vikings during the first half though, as Drake worked its way back into the contest and controlled play throughout the final part of the second quarter, taking a 40-35 lead into the halftime break.
Out of the halftime break, Cleveland State was able to swing the momentum to their side, as an 8-3 run knotted the score at 43-43 on another Oliver three-pointer, before a Taylor layup gave the advantage back to the Vikings at 45-43 with 6:00 left in the frame.
The two teams then traded baskets over the next few possessions, until Drake closed out the frame with eight straight points to take a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter.
The Vikings were once again able to open the scoring during the fourth quarter, as back-to-back baskets from Gonzalez and Hanna Media Kajevic closed the gap to 61-55 just over one minute into the frame.
Although Drake was able to once again extend its lead to double-digits midway through the quarter, the Vikings went on a 7-0 late in the frame to come within three points at 65-62 following a pair of Gonzalez free throws.
This would be as close as the Vikings would get though, as the Bulldogs went on to control play throughout the rest of the contest, coming away with the 76-71 victory.
Up Next
Cleveland State will close out its season-opening four-game roadswing on Monday, November 16, traveling to Xavier for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
