CLEVELAND, Ohio (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle defined more by grit than grace, the Cleveland State Vikings escaped with a 57-52 road victory over the Robert Morris Colonials in a Horizon League women’s basketball contest Saturday at a sparsely attended Charles L. Sewall Center.

The game, which saw both teams combine for 35 turnovers and shoot under 40% from the field, was ultimately decided by Cleveland State’s ability to capitalize on Robert Morris mistakes and a pivotal third-quarter surge. The Vikings improved to 20-8 overall, while the Colonials fell to 16-10.

The first half was a low-scoring affair that set the tone. Robert Morris, led early by Bailey Kuhns, managed a narrow 13-10 lead after one quarter. The second quarter offered more of the same, with Cleveland State’s defense tightening to edge ahead 23-22 by halftime. The Vikings’ offense sputtered, but they stayed afloat by forcing nine first-half turnovers from the Colonials.

The most important part of the game arrived decisively in the third quarter. Cleveland State emerged from the break with renewed purpose, particularly on the offensive end. The Vikings exploded for 21 points in the period, their highest-scoring quarter of the game, while holding Robert Morris to just 11. This 21-11 frame turned a one-point halftime advantage into a 44-34 lead entering the final quarter, providing a cushion that would prove essential.

Key to that third-quarter run was the inside-outside connection between Izabella Zingaro and Colbi Maples. Zingaro, the 6-foot-4 center from Bolton, Canada, was a force, finishing with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds while adding four assists. Maples, a 5-foot-8 guard from Earle, Arkansas, led all scorers with 17 points, including critical baskets during the third-quarter push. Macey Fegan added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a full 38-minute effort for the Vikings.

Robert Morris refused to capitulate in the fourth quarter, mounting a fierce comeback attempt. The Colonials outscored Cleveland State 18-13 in the final period, spearheaded by the frontcourt duo of Myriam Traore and Eva Levingston. Traore, a 6-foot-3 forward from Lognes, France, scored 17 points and blocked two shots. Levingston, from Oakland, California, posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, alongside three assists and a block.

The Colonials whittled the lead down to a single possession in the closing minutes, applying intense defensive pressure that forced several Cleveland State turnovers. However, the Vikings’ early second-half work provided just enough of a buffer. With the score tight in the final seconds, Cleveland State’s defense held firm on Robert Morris’s last possessions, and clutch free throws from Jada Leonard in the waning moments sealed the five-point victory.

Statistically, the game was a testament to defensive effort and offensive inefficiency. Cleveland State shot 44.7% from the field (21 of 47) but only 26.7% from three-point range (4 of 15). Robert Morris was worse, shooting 38% overall (19 of 50) and a frigid 16.7% from deep (2 of 12). The Vikings won the battle in the paint, 28-22, and, crucially, converted Robert Morris’s 16 turnovers into 22 points, while the Colonials managed only eight points off 19 Cleveland State giveaways.

The victory gives Cleveland State a regular-season sweep of Robert Morris, having also won the prior meeting 68-61 on Jan. 18. It also extends the Vikings’ winning streak to three games as they continue to jockey for position in the Horizon League standings ahead of their next game against IU Indy on Thursday.

Robert Morris, which has now dropped two of its last three, will look to rebound on the road at Detroit on Thursday.