Fluker Reaches 1,000; New Orleans Defeats CSUN 76-73

NEW ORLEANS—Channon Fluker became the 11th CSUN women's basketball player to score at least 1,000 career points, but New Orleans used a 13-2 fourth quarter run to defeat the Matadors 76-73 in consolation, round one of the Preseason WNIT Friday night at Lakefront Arena.

Fluker started strong, scoring eight points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first quarter. Frontcourt mate, Eliza Matthews added six as the Matadors led 18-14 after 10 minutes. Fluker scored 10 consecutive CSUN points at one point as the Matadors extended the lead to seven with 7:21 to go in the second.

Fluker's 1000th point came on a free throw with 1:59 to go in the first half. The 6-4 center ended the opening frame with her 34th career double-double as she went into halftime with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Fluker recorded all six second quarter field goals for CSUN but Randi Brown kept the Privateers in the game as she charted 19 points in the first half. The Matadors took a 34-29 lead into halftime.

With Fluker being doubled-teamed, CSUN went to Matthews in the low-block. The 2017 Big West Freshman of the Year scored the first seven points of the half for the Matadors. Behind Matthews' efforts, CSUN took a 41-33 lead with 6:32 remaining. The Matadors would lead by as many as 10 in the third before setting in for a 55-47 advantage at the end of the period.

Asia Woods opened the fourth quarter scoring for UNO with a layup. CSUN responded by going inside to Tessa Boagni and Fluker who tallied four straight. The Privateers went over three minutes without a point as the Matadors earned their largest lead, 61-50. New Orleans responded with five consecutive points which featured a Brown three-pointer. UNO's Whitney Larry was issued a technical foul at the 5:27 mark as CSUN tried to inbound the ball after Brown's three-pointer. The Matadors were awarded two free throws. Boagni sank 1-of-2 as CSUN kept the possession. A Fluker layup got the lead back up to nine at 64-55.

UNO drew back-to-back CSUN fouls which resulted in four Kayla Mundy free throws. Meghann Henderson was fouled. Her two free throws cut short the UNO spurt. Boagni was fouled on a rebound. The New Zealand native converted both chances for a 68-59 CSUN lead. Brown reached 29 points with two free throws at 3:17 to create a 68-63 score. A CSUN turnover resulted in Mundy being fouled going to the basket. She made both of her free throws to further reduce CSUN lead.

Brown stole the ball and was fouled going to the basket. Brown made 1-of-2 free throws. After a Juliana Louis layup, New Orleans stole the ball and passed it ahead to Brown who capped off a 13-2 spurt with three-pointer for a 72-70 New Orleans lead, their first of the second half. The 35th Matador turnover of the game with 2:03 remaining returned the possession to UNO. Halie Matthews was fouled inside. She missed the first before New Orleans was called for a lane violation.

The Matadors attacked the basket with Louis drawing a foul. The 6-1 freshman went to the line and made 1-of-2 attempts. Boagni was fouled getting the offensive rebound, earning a trip to the charity stripe. She made both with 1:41 to go in the fourth to put CSUN up 73-72. Mundy drove the lane for a basket and the lead. CSUN committed a turnover which gave UNO the ball. Halie Matthews missed a three-pointer. Terrin Sullivan grabbed the rebound, brought it across half court and called timeout with 49.8 seconds remaining.

Trying to get the ball inside to Fluker, CSUN turned the ball over underneath the basket. UNO called timeout, advancing the ball to half court. Brown worked her way inside and her layup with 13.3 seconds to go was her 37th and 38th points of the night as New Orleans took a 76-73 advantage.

CSUN had three chances in the final 13 seconds to tie the score. Sullivan's three-point attempt was off the back iron. Destiny Brooks ended up with the ball. Her attempt to tie the score was off the front of the basket. CSUN got the rebound, passing the ball out to Claudia Ramos. Her three-pointer at the buzzer was short, earning UNO the victory.

Fluker scored 32 points, marking the fourth time since the start of the 2016-17 season she surpassed the 30-point plateau. She added a game high 20 rebounds and five blocked shots. Eliza Matthews finished with a career high 14. Boagni scored 14 and had eight rebounds. The Matadors outrebounded UNO 57-28 and outshot the Privateers 45.5% (25-of-55) to 30.6% (22-of-72).

The Privateers forced 37 Matador turnovers, scoring 33 points. New Orleans was 25-of-30 from the free throw line (83.3%) while the Matadors were 21-of-29 (71.4%). Brown was 11-of-33 from the field and 10-of-13 from the free throw line for her 38 points. Mundy added 13 for UNO.

"We did some good things, but we need to do a much better job of taking care of the basketball," said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers. "We have to find a way to make better decisions not only at the end of games, but throughout. We come back tomorrow and play a good Milwaukee team and we have to better than we were today."

The Matadors (0-3) take on Milwaukee (0-2) Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. (PT) in consolation round two of the Preseason WNIT.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

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Team Stats

Channon Fluker

Tessa Boagni

Eliza Matthews

Terrin Sullivan

Players Mentioned

Tessa Boagni

Destiny Brooks

Channon Fluker

Meghann Henderson

Juliana Louis

Eliza Matthews

Claudia Ramos

Terrin Sullivan