KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan all but had their first win of the season until Cleveland State's Honesty King hit a three-pointer with four seconds remaining, forcing overtime. The Vikings went on to outscore WMU 12-6 in extra play. WMU had worked its way back from an 11-point halftime deficit and led by three with 30 seconds remaining, but fell by a 72-66 final.
CSU led 40-29 at the break, thanks in part to six three-pointers and 14-for-16 shooting from the free throw line. The Broncos turned up the intensity on the defensive side of the ball in the second half, holding CSU scoreless from the field for 12 minutes. The Broncos forced nine turnovers during that span.
Western Michigan stepped up its offense as well, going on a 17-4 run to take a two-point lead with 9:48 left in the game. WMU would go up by as many as five, and didn't relinquish the lead until overtime. The Vikings were within one, 58-57, with 1:19 left, but a pair of free throws by Corie Buchanan pushed WMU's lead back to three. Buchanan did a little of everything in the game, including blocking two shots in the final minute of regulation. She also set career highs with nine assists, six rebounds and four steals.
The second of Buchanan's blocks fell into the hands of Miame Giden with 35 seconds remaining. WMU brought the ball across midcourt and called a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Broncos played keep-away from the Vikings until nine seconds left, when Aurielle Anderson's pass into the paint was taken away. The Vikings charged the other way and King buried the game-tying shot from the left side with 4.3 seconds left on the clock.
Cleveland State (2-2) scored the first seven points of overtime and held on for the Vikings' second win of the year, while handing the Broncos (0-4) their fourth loss.
Giden and fellow senior Maria Iaquaniello each scored a team-high 16 points, Giden adding 10 rebounds for her third double-double in four games. Iaquaniello's point total set a new career high. Freshman Jazmine Windham hit three 3-pointers on her way to nine points.
The Broncos led in most statistical categories including, 18 assists, eight blocked shots and a 24-14 point differential in the paint.
However, CSU made their night from the free throw line. The Vikings were 25 of 28 (89 percent) while the Broncos went just 14 of 21 (66 percent) from the charity strip. Shalonda Winton had 16-point, 13-rebound double-double to lead CSU, and Janelle Adams pumped in a game-high 18 points. Four Viking reached double figures.
Western Michigan travels to Youngstown State Wednesday, Nov. 30, for a 7:05 p.m. tip-off. The Broncos are at home for two of the next three after that, hosting UW-Milwaukee (Dec. 3) and Southeast Missouri State (Dec. 10), while traveling to Chicago State (Dec. 6).
