CLEVELAND - Alona Blackwell scored a team-high 13 points going 3-for-6 from 3-point range followed by Kahlaijah Dean with 12 points. Lamariyee Williams posted a new career-high nine points on 4-for-9 from the field as Oakland dropped its second straight league game at Cleveland State, 68-53, on Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

Breanna Perry added four points, eight rebounds with a career-high four blocks. Chloe Guingrich and Autumn Kissman each scored five points while grabbing seven and six rebounds respectively. 

Perry pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Oakland (8-9, 8-6 HL), grabbing 18 boards and turning them into six second-chance points.

The Oakland defense was effective at taking away the basketball forcing 19 Cleveland State (5-7, 5-7 HL) turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 22 points on the offensive end of the floor. Guingrich and Dean led the way individually for the Golden Grizzlies with two steals.

Both teams combined for 49 total fouls as CSU went 21-for-27 (87.5%) from the free throw line while Oakland went 13-for-23 (56.5%). 

After falling behind 9-4, Oakland went on a 12-0 run with 4:57 left in the first quarter to take a 16-9 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. The Golden Grizzlies capitalized on eight Cleveland State turnovers in the period, turning them into eight points on the other end of the floor.

Oakland kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 7:34 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Blackwell, to increase its lead to 21-14. The Vikings then came roaring back with a 9-2 run to take a 27-26 lead heading into halftime.

CSU continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 37-28 advantage before Oakland went on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Brianna Breedy, trimming the deficit to 37-33 with 4:32 to go in the third. The Vikings countered and stretched the lead to 49-40 heading into the fourth. Oakland scored six fast-break points in the quarter.

Cleveland State kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing a 65-46 advantage before Oakland went on another 5-0 run, finished off by Williams' jumper, to shrink the deficit to 65-51 with 3:33 to go in the contest. CSU once again responded and outscored the Golden Grizzlies the rest of the way. Oakland took advantage of six Viking turnovers in the quarter, scoring six points off of those takeaways.

Oakland returns home for a pair of league games against new league member Robert Morris beginning on Friday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m.

Game Notes
» The Golden Grizzlies held the Vikings to only 38.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Oakland bench made an impact by scoring 19 points to its scoring output.
» The Oakland defense forced 19 turnovers.
» The Golden Grizzlies were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording 11 blocks as a team.
» Oakland cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive boards in the game.
» Alona Blackwell led the Golden Grizzlies with 13 points.
» Oakland got a team-high eight rebounds from Breanna Perry.

Data Skrive technology was used in helping create this recap.






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