Press Release

JANUARY 26, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: RUDY YOVICH-SID
260-481-6646

Gearlds Rains "Threes" on Vikings

Cleveland, OH- Cleveland State's scouting report must have read "Don't let Amy Gearlds beat us." And, for most of the first-half, that plan worked, but Gearlds got loose in the second half, and helped shoot IPFW to an 82-81 win Monday night at Goodman Arena.

Cleveland State and IPFW traded leads throughout most of the first half, with the Vikings keeping Gearlds off the board until just five minutes remained.

The senior sniper from Beech Grove, IN, made up for short time, hitting two "threes" and a jumper at the buzzer to tied the score at 36-all at the half.

Junior center Verea Bibbs (Euclid, OH), playing near her home, picked up the scoring slack for the 'Dons with nine markers in the first half.

In the second half, Gearlds put on a shooting clinic. Her seventh three-pointer of the game, with about six minutes left, gave IPFW a 67-60 lead.

Cleveland State battled back into it from the foul-line, drawing to within two at 77-75 at the 4:29 mark. At that point in the game, IPFW was whistled for 14 fouls as compared to only six for the Vikings.

CSU used four consecutive points from Keena Rembert to take a two point lead of their own with just over a minute to play.

But a Bibbs layup, and two free-throws from Courtney Nicley (Jr/G/Lebanon, IN) put IPFW up for good.

Cleveland State had one last chance, down one with the ball and 25 seconds left, but the Vikings turned it over.

Gearlds led all scorers with 25 points (7-9 from behind the arc). Bibbs tossed in 14, Nicley added 12, and sophomore center Kelly Boyd (North Judson, IN) had her best game of the season with eight points.

CSU (9-9) had five players in double figures. Shannon Sword and mandy Sichting each had seventeen.

With the win, IPFW improves to 7-12, and will host the University of Texas-Pan American on Saturday (1/31) at the Gates Center.

~Dons~