ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies fell to Cleveland State University 72-55, at OU Credit Union O'rena despite a valiant defensive effort, forcing the Vikings into 21 turnovers.

The game began with Oakland showing resilience on defense early, as Lianna Baxter recorded a block at 8:48, followed by a steal and bucket from Makenzie Luehring to open the game.

As the quarter progressed, Oakland found success from beyond the arc. Layla Gold connected on a 3-pointer at 7:18, and Luehring added another triple at 1:33, cutting the deficit to five points. Cali Denson would nail the team's third triple of the frame, keeping things tight as Oakland trailed 17-13 at the end of the quarter.

Denson would finish the game with 14 points on four made threes (4-for-6 3FG), stacking another multi-triple game as she continues to prove her spot among the top of the shooting ranks in the conference.

Oakland began the second quarter with Luehring and Denson connecting early to keep the scoring close. Gold contributed defensively with a steal and block, yet scoring opportunities were limited in the second frame. Smith would hit a crucial 3-pointer  and a midrange jay to trim the deficit at the end of the quarter, but Oakland would head into the half behind 36-24.

Oakland initiated the third quarter with a continued sense of defensive intensity, forcing six turnovers and generating two steals. Denson contributed significantly with a 3-pointer and two free throws early in the quarter, narrowing the scoring gap. Luehring added an assist and a crucial steal, helping maintain momentum for the team.

Despite the Vikings' efforts, including a 3-pointer by Macey Fegan, Oakland's consistent free-throw shooting, particularly by Smith and Gold in the closing minutes, helped stabilize their scoring. Impressively, the team went 15-for-21 from the free throw line in the game, marking the third time this season they have made 15 or more free throws and taken over 20 attempts in a game. The quarter concluded with Oakland trailing 50-40, having outscored the Vikings 16 to 14 in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began with Oakland attempting to gain ground, starting with a Sereniti Roberts-Adams and-one layup, bringing the score to 52-43. However, the Vikings maintained momentum with consistent scoring in the paint, led by Izabella Zingaro's 22-point, eight rebound performance, that eventually led to a 72-55 loss for Oakland. Jada Leonard finished with a game-high 23 points (8-for-11 FG) for Cleveland State.

Luehring finished with 13 points (2-for-5 3FG), three steals, four rebounds, and four assists in one of her best performances of the season. She also took the primary defending assignment on the league's top scorer Colbi Maples, holding her to just six points, a season low for the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year.

Jazzy Dupree-Hebert also added three steals and played a hard-nosed 19 minutes in the game, providing a reliable two-way presence for the golden grizzlies in the game.

In their next game, Oakland will face Loyola University Chicago on Monday, Dec. 15. The matchup will take place in Chicago, Illinois, with the tip-off set for noon.