CLEVELAND, Ohio (Interstat) — The Cleveland State Vikings used a dominant first quarter to seize control and never looked back, cruising to a 74-56 victory over the Northern Kentucky Norse in a Horizon League women’s basketball game Tuesday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

The Vikings, improving to 10-2 overall, erupted for 27 points in the opening period, establishing a 12-point lead that the Norse could never seriously threaten. Northern Kentucky, which fell to 3-10, struggled with offensive efficiency throughout, committing 16 turnovers and managing only three assists as a team.

Cleveland State’s decisive early run was fueled by balanced scoring and defensive pressure. The Vikings opened the game on a 10-2 spurt, with Colbi Maples and Macey Fegan connecting from deep. While Northern Kentucky’s Karina Bystry answered with an early three-pointer, the Vikings’ offense continued to hum. Jada Leonard’s driving layup and another three from Maples, assisted by Izabella Zingaro, pushed the lead to 10-2 just over two minutes into the contest.

The Norse briefly found a rhythm, with Mia Jordan hitting a jumper to make it 10-4, but Cleveland State responded with a 14-3 run over a four-minute stretch to blow the game open. The surge featured a three-pointer from Ella Van Weelden, a layup from Laurel Rockwood, and five straight points from Leonard, giving the Vikings a 24-7 advantage. Northern Kentucky closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, capped by a Jamaya Thomas layup, but still trailed 27-15.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably that first-quarter onslaught. Cleveland State shot efficiently, shared the ball with four assists, and forced five Norse turnovers, converting them into easy opportunities. That initial burst sapped Northern Kentucky’s momentum and forced them into a chasing posture for the remaining 30 minutes. Despite a more competitive second and third quarters, the Norse never got the deficit below nine points, as every mini-run was met with a timely response from the Vikings’ deep roster.

Bystry led all scorers with 20 points for Northern Kentucky, and Maddie Moody added 10 points. Their efforts, however, were overshadowed by Cleveland State’s multifaceted attack. Zingaro, a 6-foot-4 center from Bolton, Canada, dominated the interior with 17 points, three assists and two blocks in 30 minutes. Maples, from Earle, Arkansas, matched her with 17 points and four assists, while Leonard, from the Bronx, orchestrated the offense with 14 points and seven assists.

The Vikings’ defense was equally instrumental, tallying eight steals and limiting Northern Kentucky to 35.7% shooting from the field and a paltry 50% from the free-throw line. Cleveland State also won the possession battle, committing only seven turnovers while forcing 16, leading to a decisive 21-6 advantage in points off turnovers.

Northern Kentucky’s offensive rating of 80.5 on 70 possessions underscored its struggles, while Cleveland State operated at a crisp 106.3 efficiency. The Vikings also held a 42-30 edge in points in the paint, leveraging their size and driving ability.

With the win, Cleveland State continues its strong start to the season ahead of a trip to the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico. Northern Kentucky, mired in a three-game losing streak, will look to regroup at home against Bradley on Sunday.

The announced attendance at the Wolstein Center was 2,504.