The Oakland women’s basketball team fell in defeat to the Cleveland State University (CSU) Vikings at the OU Credit Union O’rena on Thursday, Jan. 25, with a final score of 77-65.
Notably, this loss marks the 12th loss in a row for the Grizzlies when they match up against CSU.
Brooke Quarles-Daniels led the Grizzlies in points and rebounds, knocking down seven of her 12 attempts for 15 points while coming down with seven rebounds. Notably, Quarles-Daniels played all 40 minutes for OU and also tallied three assists and three steals.
In addition to Quarles-Daniels, Linda van Schaik, Maddy Skorupski, Markyia McCormick and Miriam Ibezim also tallied double-digit scoring efforts. Skorupski and McCormick weren’t shy on the defensive side either, as Skorupski had a team-high seven steals while McCormick came away with a pair of steals.
The Vikings got on the scoreboard first, finishing a layup down low. However, Ibezim responded on the next possession for the Grizzlies. Ibezim brought in an offensive rebound and converted down low before getting fouled and putting OU ahead with a free throw at the charity stripe.
Despite taking the early lead, CSU could not crack the OU defense following their first make. The Grizzlies forced the Vikings to make some poor inbound passes and prevented CSU from getting open looks in the paint.
As for the Grizzlies, the team was the polar opposite of the Vikings on the offensive side. OU scored all of its points in the paint or at the free throw line through the first five minutes of the first quarter.
Following a media timeout, CSU got things going on offense, scoring ten points in the quarter’s final five minutes. However, OU had no problem scoring either. The Grizzlies converted three of their four attempts from deep in the quarter’s final minutes, and OU led the Vikings 19-12 at the end of the first.
To start the second quarter, the Vikings began to chip into the Grizzlies lead as the spark of offense the team saw at the end of the first carried over. Additionally, CSU tightened up on the defensive side, holding OU to just four points in the quarter’s first five minutes.
For the rest of the second, both teams remained evenly matched, as neither the Grizzlies nor the Vikings could form any serious offensive runs or shut out their opponent on defense. However, the Vikings continued to cut into the OU lead, and the Grizzlies went into halftime leading 34-32.
At the start of the third quarter, the Vikings hit two straight layups to take back the lead over the Grizzlies for the first time since the game started. Following the conversions, CSU did not look back.
The Vikings were in complete control of the rest of the third, holding the Grizzlies to just ten points the entire quarter. CSU’s impressive defense also contributed directly to the scoreboard, as the Vikings tallied eight fast break points in the quarter as the Grizzlies trailed 58-43.
In the fourth quarter, OU showed some signs of life despite being down 15 points. At one point, OU came within 10 points of the Vikings. However, CSU’s large lead to start the fourth was too much for the Grizzlies to overcome, and OU ultimately lost.
The Grizzlies will play their next two games on the road, starting with the Wright State Raiders on Wednesday, Jan. 31. After that, the team will travel south on Friday, Feb. 2, to battle with the Northern Kentucky Norse.