BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team dropped its first contest of the 2026-27 season Thursday, coming up just short in a 77-73 decision at Bowling Green.
Game Stats
-Five Vikings finished in double-figure scoring, led by
Macie Taylor with 16.
-
Chloe Oliver added 15 points,
Paula Pique chipped in 14 and
Silvia Gonzalez and
Alexa Hocevar both added 10.
-
Alexa Hocevar grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds, while
Paula Pique recorded 11 boards.
-The Vikings shot 45-percent from the field on the game, including a .588 clip during the third quarter.
-Cleveland State's defense grabbed eight steals on the night, including two each from
Macie Taylor and
Alexa Hocevar.
Game Notes
-
Macie Taylor tallied 15+ points in her second straight game, and was CSU's leading scorer for the second time in as many games.
-
Paula Pique and
Alexa Hocevar both notched their first double-doubles of the season, Pique with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Hocevar with 10 points and 14 boards.
The Game
After closing the first half with six straight points – and a 12-4 run – the Vikings were able to close the gap to just nine points at 40-31 heading into the halftime break.
Cleveland State carried its momentum into the third quarter then, as a 6-2 run trimmed the lead once again to 42-37 following a
Chloe Oliver layup just under two minutes into the frame.
The Vikings continued to work their way back into the contest over the next few minutes, until back-to-back baskets from
Alexa Hocevar and Oliver pulled CSU within one point at 49-48 with 3:39 left on the clock.
An Oliver free throw on the ensuing CSU possession knotted the score at 49-49, before both teams traded baskets over the final minutes of the quarter, with Bowling Green taking a 56-53 lead into the final frame.
Despite Bowling Green extending its lead to eight throughout the first half of the fourth quarter, the Vikings responded with a 9-3 run midway through the frame to come within two points at 69-67 following a
Macie Taylor and-one play.
The Falcons extended their lead back to five on their next possession, and went on to hold at least a three-point lead until the closing seconds, when a pair of Hocevar free throws put the score at 75-73 with just five seconds left to play.
Bowling Green was then able to convert a pair of free throws of their own to come away with the 77-73 victory.
Up Next
Cleveland State will travel to Drake for an early 12:00 p.m. start on Tuesday, November 10.
