Weber State Withstands CSUN 64-61

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.— CSUN nearly overcame a 13-point second-half deficit, but the Matadors fell by three to Weber State Thursday night.

Weber State scored eight of the first 10 points of the game before CSUN responded with a 15-4 run that resulted in a 17-15 Matador lead after 10 minutes. Channon Fluker scored 10 points in the first half, but was forced to the bench after only six minutes due to foul trouble.

Without Fluker in the middle, CSUN went cold in the second quarter, making only five of 27 field goal attempts. The Wildcats would make eight of 12 shots in the second as Kailie Quinn was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field (including 4-of-4 from three-point range). Weber State outscored CSUN 23-11 in the second to take a 38-28 lead into halftime.

The poor CSUN shooting continued in the third as the Matadors could only make five of 17 field goal attempts. Weber State built to their largest lead of the game, 52-39 on an Emily Drake three-pointer with 2:31 remaining before CSUN closed the frame out on a 5-1 spurt and made it 53-44 to start the fourth quarter.

Tessa Boagni's layup followed by a Serafina Maulupe three-pointer reduced the Weber State lead to 53-49 at the 7:29 mark. The Wildcats scored the next four points to build the lead back up before Claudia Ramos hit back-to-back three's that created a 57-55 score with 5:15 remaining. The CSUN defense kept the Wildcats at bay before a pair of Boagni free throws tied the game up at 3:42.

Brian Gray returned the lead to Weber State 24 seconds later. A CSUN foul led to a Wildcats' turnover. The Matadors called timeout. Maulupe missed a three-point attempt, but Hayley Tanabe, the CSUN point guard, grabbed the rebound and passed inside to Fluker who was fouled. The 6-4 center connected on both for a one-point Matadors' lead.

Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman's layup ended up being the go-ahead basket with 1:16 remaining for the Wildcats. CSUN brought the ball down court. Boagni would take a jumper that missed. However, the ball went off a Weber State player, keeping the ball in the hands of the Matadors. CSUN called timeout. Ramos would take a three-pointer with 32 seconds to go, but the ball missed. Quinn got the board and was fouled. After Weber State called timeout, Tanabe fouled Larryn Brooks who would make both of her free throw attempts for what proved to be the final 64-61 score.

CSUN called a timeout. With time winding down, Tanabe's three-point attempt with two ticks left on the clock was no good. Weber State was awarded the ball. The Wildcats called timeout. Jocelyn Adams would be fouled, but she missed two free throws with one second remaining as the buzzer sounded on the second miss.

"The initial look was for Serafina," said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers. "Weber State's defense led the ball into Hayley's hands. She got a good look but it didn't go down."

CSUN outrebounded Weber State 60-33, 30-4 on the offensive glass. Weber State would limit the Matadors to 28.4% (23-of-81) shooting for the game, compared to 42.3% (22-of-52) for the Wildcats. Fluker recorded her 50th career double-digit scoring game (in 67 appearances) with 21 points. She charted her 35th career double-double as she grabbed a game high 13 rebounds.

Maulupe scored 12 points while Boagni added 10. Quinn did not make a shot in the second half (0-for-5), but would lead the Wildcats with 17 points. Gray had 14 while Brooks scored 14. In taking their sixth loss of the season, CSUN has lost five (the exception being Oregon) by a total of 22 points.

"To be honest, I'm tired of the comebacks," Flowers said. "I'm waiting for us to come out from the start and do the things we are supposed to do for longer stretches. We have to figure out a way to come out strong from the start. It is frustrating, but we will come back, prepare, watch film, and get ready for Fresno State on Saturday."

CSUN (1-6) hosts Fresno State (2-4) Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The game is available on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health as well as BigWest.tv.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

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Team Stats

Channon Fluker

Serafina Maulupe

Tessa Boagni

Claudia Ramos

Players Mentioned

Tessa Boagni

Channon Fluker

Serafina Maulupe

Claudia Ramos

Hayley Tanabe