CLEVELAND, Ohio (Interstat) — The Cleveland State Vikings used a dominant third quarter to pull away from the Detroit Titans and secure a 68-52 victory in a Horizon League women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Wolstein Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 451, was a tale of two halves, with the Vikings’ efficiency and defensive pressure in the pivotal third period proving decisive.

Cleveland State, which improved to 14-5 overall, led by just two points at halftime, 31-29, after a tightly contested opening 20 minutes. The Vikings seized control immediately after the break, outscoring Detroit 20-8 in the third quarter. That surge transformed a narrow advantage into a commanding 51-37 lead heading into the final frame, a margin the Titans could not overcome.

The most important stretch of the game began with Cleveland State holding a 34-33 lead midway through the third. Over the next four minutes, the Vikings engineered a 13-2 run. The sequence was fueled by defensive stops and opportunistic scoring. Macey Fegan converted a pair of free throws, Colbi Maples hit a jumper, and then Fegan drained a critical three-pointer assisted by Paula Pique to extend the lead to 45-35. An Ella Van Weelden layup capped the run, giving Cleveland State a 47-35 advantage and firm control of the contest.

Detroit, which fell to 4-13, struggled offensively throughout the night, shooting just 34.5 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Titans also committed 10 turnovers, which the Vikings converted into key transition opportunities during their game-altering run.

Cleveland State was led by a standout performance from Izabella Zingaro. The 6-foot-4 sophomore from Bolton, Canada, scored 20 points in just 20 minutes of action, showcasing efficiency inside. She was complemented by guard Macey Fegan of Bentley, Michigan, who logged 32 minutes and contributed 15 points and four assists. The Vikings’ offense was effective, posting an offensive rating of 98.6 points per 100 possessions, significantly outperforming Detroit’s rating of 81.1.

For the Titans, guard Myonna Hooper of Pontiac, Michigan, led the way with 15 points, while Makayla Jackson added 13. Detroit’s offense, which managed only eight points in the decisive third quarter, could not find consistent answers for Cleveland State’s defensive adjustments after halftime.

The Vikings also excelled at the free-throw line, making 18 of 21 attempts, a stark contrast to Detroit’s 8-of-15 shooting from the stripe. Cleveland State’s ability to draw fouls and convert proved to be a steadying factor as they built their lead.

The victory completed a regular-season split for the two teams. Detroit had won the first meeting 76-68 on its home court on Dec. 4. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Cleveland State entered Wednesday’s rematch with a 95.5 percent probability to win.

With the win, Cleveland State continues its push near the top of the Horizon League standings. Detroit, mired in a losing streak, will look to regroup in its next outing.

Cleveland State next hosts Robert Morris on Sunday. Detroit returns home to face Oakland on the same day.