Wright State trailed by just two with 5:55 remaining, but could not overcome a hot start by Cleveland State as the Vikings hit their first eight shots en route to a 70-56 decision over the Raiders in the Horizon League women's basketball championship game in Green Bay Sunday afternoon.

CSU broke a 2-2 tie with eight straight points, including a three and Layup from Brittany Korth, and the Vikings extended the margin to 26-13 with 6:47 remaining in the first half on a Kailey Klein jumper and a Dominique Butler layup.

Wright State closed the gap to 28-21 on a LaShawna Thomas three from the top of the key at the 2:46 mark, but went scoreless the rest of the period as Cleveland State went up 30-21 at the break.

Cleveland State shot 52 percent over the first 20 minutes compared to 35 percent for the Raiders, held a 17-8 edge on the boards and led 14-4 in points off of turnovers.

The Vikings took their biggest lead of the game at 36-21 by scoring the first six points of the second half, only to see Wright State close the gap to 44-41 following a Sierra Crayton layup with 11:32 remaining.

CSU answered with six straight points, but the Raiders again rallied, this time to 53-51 on a Shey Peddy jumper at the 5:55 mark.

Klein, however, followed with a three and another triple, this time by Robyn Hoying, along with a Dominique Butler layup push the lead back into double figures at 62-52. Wright State would get no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Cleveland State shot 53 percent for the game and was 17 of 26 from the foul line while the Raiders hit for 42 percent overall and were 14 of 17 from the stripe. The Vikings dominated the boards 35-18 and led in points in the paint (26-16), points off of turnovers (21-15) and second-chance points (6-0).

Wright State (16-16), which finished runner-up in the League tournament for the second time in four years, was led by All-Tournament Team performer Peddy, who tied a season-high with 31 points, 21 coming in the second half. Thomas added 13, but no other Raider managed more than five.

Tournament MVP Klein paced Cleveland State (19-13) with a double-double of 29 points and 13 rebounds as the Vikings advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Butler also had a double-double of 16 points and 13 boards while Korth added 13 points.


All-Tournament Team
Kailey Klein, Cleveland State (MVP)
Brittany Korth, Cleveland State
Dominique Butler, Cleveland State
Shey Peddy, Wright State
Traci Edwards, Milwaukee