HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Interstat) — In a Horizon League women’s basketball clash defined by dramatic momentum swings, the Cleveland State Vikings weathered a furious second-half rally from Northern Kentucky to secure a 69-61 victory on the road Saturday at Regents Hall.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived in the third quarter, completely reshaping the contest. Cleveland State, led by the dominant inside presence of Izabella Zingaro, had methodically built a commanding 40-25 halftime lead. The Vikings’ defense was stifling, holding the Norse to just seven points in the second quarter on 3-of-15 shooting. The advantage ballooned to 17 points early in the third after a Colbi Maples three-pointer.

Then, the game turned. Northern Kentucky unleashed a 26-7 run over the remainder of the quarter, flipping a 17-point deficit into a 51-47 lead heading into the final period. The Norse found their offensive rhythm, attacking the basket and capitalizing on Cleveland State turnovers. Mya Meredith and Taysha Rushton fueled the surge, while Abby Wolterman provided critical interior play, scoring seven points during the burst and drawing fouls on the Viking posts.

Facing a complete collapse, Cleveland State regrouped in the fourth. The Vikings returned to their first-half formula: feeding Zingaro and relying on Maples’ scoring punch. With the score tied at 55 and just over four minutes remaining, Zingaro converted a tip-in off a Maples miss, sparking a decisive 8-0 run. She followed with a layup on the next possession, and after a Sarah Hurley steal, Zingaro scored again inside to push the lead to 63-55 with 3:49 left, effectively sealing the game.

Northern Kentucky never recovered, managing only two field goals in the final four minutes as Cleveland State closed the game on a 14-6 run.

Zingaro, a 6-foot-4 junior from Bolton, Canada, was the cornerstone of the Viking effort, posting a monumental double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds in 34 minutes. Her performance anchored Cleveland State during both their early dominance and their critical final-quarter response. Maples, a 5-8 guard from Earle, Arkansas, matched Zingaro’s 25 points, providing essential perimeter scoring, particularly in the first half.

For Northern Kentucky, the comeback effort was led by a balanced attack. Meredith, a Newport, Kentucky native, scored 17 points, while Rushton added 16 and Karina Bystry contributed 15. Wolterman just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.

Statistically, the game was a tale of efficiency overcoming volume. Cleveland State shot 43.4% from the field, while Northern Kentucky struggled at 33.3%. The Norse attempted 13 more shots but made one fewer field goal. A significant disparity came at the three-point line, where both teams were cold, but Cleveland State’s 17-of-23 performance at the free-throw line proved crucial compared to Northern Kentucky’s 12-of-16.

The Vikings improved to 17-7 overall and solidified their position in the Horizon League standings. The Norse fell to 10-14, seeing a two-game winning streak snapped.

Cleveland State’s victory completed a regular-season sweep of Northern Kentucky, having also won 74-56 at home on Dec. 16. The Vikings will look to build on the win when they travel to face IU Indy on Wednesday. Northern Kentucky aims to rebound when it hosts Oakland on Tuesday.