After a long winter break, Vikings put up huge numbers in key games to continue winning
This winter, the Cleveland State University women’s basketball team has dominated the court. The Vikes fought for a winning streak all throughout the months of November and carried it until Dec. 18. As winter break encroached upon the team, they faced four canceled games. Even with the cancellations of games, the Vikes maintained a record of 4 and 3.
So far this season the team has dominated two major matchups. The first was a November matchup against the Quincy University Hawks. The Vikings put up 93 points to the Hawks’ meager 53. Their second game was against Ohio Christian University Trailblazers. The Trailblazers were sent home with an incredible upset by the Vikings. They took absolute control of the Wolstein home court and put up a whopping 104 points. Five of the Vikings walked off the court that night with double-figure points.
Junior Gabriella Smith led with 23 points, senior Nadia Dumas totaled 17, both junior Brittni Moore and sophomore Raevyn Harris tallied 13 and sophomore Deja Williams added 12 points to the team’s final 104. Smith, Williams, and Harris set Cleveland State career-highs with their leading scores. Moore was able to tie her career-best.
Throughout the game, CSU had a total combined score of 13 steals and forced the Trailblazers into 22 turnovers. Working around the rim, the Vikings stole a 55 to 35 advantage in rebounds, junior Amele Ngwafang contributing to nine and senior Barbara Zieniewska to eight. The Vikings walked off the court that night with a shooting percentage of 51 percent.
The team put up a fight against Loyola. A tough loss for the team, with the final score being 66-52. The loss put the Vikings record at 9-1. Dumas scored 16 points against the Ramblers, her second game with 15 or more points. Sophomore Destiny Leo also put up 16 points against the Ramblers. Leo has managed at least 15 points in all seven games she has played in this season.
Over the course of the third quarter, the Vikings and Ramblers traded points. In the fourth, the Vikings gave up a Rambler run but closed the gap to 58-46. In the last five minutes of the game, unfortunately, the Ramblers took control of the court and extended their lead over the Vikings.
The Vikings head into February after giving up a four-game winning streak to IUPUI. The next five games are going to be on the Vikings home court, where the team is hoping to dominate the remaining conference games.