Cleveland State advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League women’s basketball tournament after the Vikings defeated the UIC Flames at the Wolstein Center 69-43 on Feb. 25, following that with 69-63 victory over the Green Bay Phoenix on Tuesday.

Game 1 - Friday Feb. 25

CSU extended their lead coming out of halftime, as Nadia Dumas’ layup and an Isabelle Gradwell jumpshot put the Vikings up 30-20. 

The two sides then traded shots over the remainder of the quarter, with the Vikings taking an 8-point lead into the final 10 minutes of game time at 41-33.

Although the Flames were able to get on the board first during the last quarter, the Vikings responded with an 8-point run that included a pair of 3-pointers from Gradwell and Taylah Levy to push the lead out to 49-35 with just over seven minutes left on the clock.

The Vikings made the difference 21 points following a pair of free throws from Barbara Zieniewska, a lead the team would not yield for the remainder of the contest.

Destiny Leo’s free throw set the Vikings on course to score six straight points with baskets coming from Raevyn Harris, Julia Hintz and Hannah White to seal the 69-43 #HLWBB first-round victory.

Game 2 - Tuesday, Mar. 2

Going in as the underdog, the Vikings exceeded themselves with a strong effort against the Green Bay Phoenix at the Kress Events Center. 

CSU ended the first 10 minutes of play with a 13-11 advantage, following a Leo 3-pointer and a strong defensive effort, including a block late in the quarter by Aminata Ly. 

Another 3-pointer from Leo put Cleveland State up 16-11 early in the second quarter. On the ensuing possession by Green Bay, CSU's top-scorer Mariah White picked up her first steal of the game and then converted a pair of free throws after being fouled while looking for a layup to put her team up by 7 at 18-11 with over eight minutes left on the clock. 

The teams then traded baskets until a 3-pointer from White put the Vikings ahead 23-16 with just over three minutes left in the quarter. Green Bay answered with a 3-pointer of its own. However Zieniewska shot from behind the arc on the following CSU possession to cushion the CSU lead at 7 once again at 26-19.

The two quarter-finalists then traded 3-pointers, with Gradwell putting the Vikings up 29-22 before another Zieniewska 3-pointer gave the Vikings their first double-digit lead of the contest at 32-22 as time was expiring. Following a foul, Zieniewska then made one free throw, putting Cleveland State up 33-22 heading into halftime.  

Out of the break, the Phoenix were able to put the first 3 points on the board, but a 10-point run from CSU put the Vikings up by 18 at 43-25. Zieniewska recorded her third 3-pointer, while a Leo steal led to a Ly layup.  

A 3-pointer from the Phoenix slowed the Vikings, but a White layup and a Leo 3-pointer put Cleveland State back on top by 20 at 48-28. The Vikings closed out the third quarter with a 52-31 advantage, following a Taylah Levy 3-pointer with less than a minute on the clock.

The Phoenix started strong in the final quarter with a 15-2 run, closing the deficit to single digits at 54-46. 

But another Gradwell 3-pointer put the Vikings up by 11 at 57-46. The Vikings then fought off another Green Bay run late, as the Phoenix closed the gap to 60-54. CSU's Gradwell made successful back-to-back trips to the free throw line, extending CSU's lead to 64-54 with 19 seconds remaining.

This advantage wouldn't last long however, as the two teams traded 3-pointers and free throws over the next few possessions. A pair of free throws from CSU's Zieniewska made it a two-possession game with just 11 seconds left on the clock. 

White then put the game away for the Vikings with another pair of free throws with four seconds remaining.

The final score was the Vikings 69-63 over Green Bay.

CSU Head Coach Chris Keilsmeier praised the team's perseverance against a tough opponent.

”They came after us at the end and we didn’t fold,” Keilsmeier said. “Just played amazing all night long, defended, made the shots when we needed to, made some clutch free throws late and we’re going to Indy!”

Up next!

Cleveland State makes its second straight trip to the #HLWBB semifinals, as the Vikings face top-seeded Wright State on Monday, Mar. 8 at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.