Cleveland State women’s basketball took down DePaul University for their second win of the season on Nov 15. The Vikings battled hard for 40 minutes to force overtime, where the Vikings pulled away in the end.
At the end of the first quarter, both teams were tied with 23 points each. However, it was a battle of runs with the Blue Demons, jumping out to a 15-2 run, with the Viking’s only points coming off of Forward Brittni Moore’s two free throws.
The Vikings had a 21-7 run, with Guards Deja Willaims, Destiny Leo, and Forward Barbara Zieniewska leading the way with multiple threes.
The second quarter leaped off to a slow start for the Vikings, with the first basket coming after two minutes were played in the quarter from a Moore jump shot. Both teams would battle back and forth for the rest of the quarter as both sides played great defense, with only 24 combined points allowed.
Both teams head into halftime tied 35-35. Moore led the Vikings in scoring that first half with 8 points, with Leo and Zieniewska backing her up 7 and 6 points.
The third quarter was all the Blue Demons, with them starting hot with a 12-4 run over the Vikings.
DePaul would outscore Cleveland State 25-16 in the third quarter overall, taking a 60-51 lead in the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter turned to the Vikings’ side, with seven players scoring in the frame. Guard Sara Guerreiro, Forward Jordana Reisma, Leo, and Zieniewska would each chip in 4, 4, 4, and 5-points, respectively. However, Guard Carmen Villalobos’s clutch three-pointer off of a Willaims assist with one second left in regulation would send the Vikings into overtime tied 76-76.
In overtime, the Green and White would cap the game off on a 14-7 run led by Leo, Williams, and Moore, each scoring four points a piece.
Players of the game
Overall, Cleveland State had four players in double-digits. Leo led the way with 22-points and five assists with eight turnovers. Leo shot 8-13 from the field and 2-4 from deep. Moore scored 15-points with four rebounds and two steals. Williams scored 14 points with eight assists and four rebounds. Zieniewska had a double-double with 14-points and 12-rebounds with two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
DePaul also had four players with double-digits. Forward Aneesah Morrow led the Blue Demons in scoring with 42 points and 15 rebounds.
Upcoming schedule
Cleveland State will take on the Hampton Inn Cleveland Downtown Viking Invitational on Nov. 23, playing Georgia State at 4 p.m., Bellarmine on Nov. 25 at 4 p.m., and St. Bonaventure on Nov. 26 at 4 p.m.