Fluker Records A Triple-Double; CSUN Defeats Seattle U 67-62

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—Channon Fluker recorded the fifth triple-double in CSUN women's basketball history to lead the Matadors past Seattle U 67-62 Saturday afternoon at the Matadome.

A 6-4 center, Fluker, scored 28 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and blocked a school-record 13 shots. Fluker broke the previous school record of 11 blocks which was set by Camille Mahlknecht against Cal State Fullerton On Feb. 8, 2014.

"It is going to sound crazy, but those are the things we expect from Channon," said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers. "We know what her potential is and so we've been talking as a group about things that go on the defensive end. She was in position to help her teammates. As a result, that was the number of blocks she ended up with."

The previous two recorded triple-doubles on the CSUN books were posted by Ofa Tulikihihifo had 2 triple-doubles. Tulikihihifo scored 13 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had 11 assists against Portland State on Nov. 13, 2006. Tulikihihifo scored 22 points, nabbed 13 rebounds, and had 10 steals against Cal Poly on Jan. 18, 2003.

Both teams played fine defense in the first half. The Matadors held the Redhawks to 28.9% shooting (11-of-38) from the floor while Seattle U limited CSUN to 31% (9-of-29) from the field. The difference was Fluker. The Matadors found the 6-4 center under the basket where she used her height advantage to get to the foul line. Fluker tied her career high with 11 free throws (in 12 attempts). Fluker's 19 points offset Alexis Montgomery who scored 14 as CSUN led 29-25 at halftime.

CSUN made 7-of-10 field goal attempts in the third quarter to earn a 47-42 lead after 30 minutes. An 11-2 Matador spurt began the fourth quarter and gave CSUN its largest lead of the game, 58-44 with 5:56 to play. The Redhawks called timeout and responded with a 12-0 run that was capped off by a Kamira Sanders layup with 2:32 to play.

Eliza Matthews and Fluker scored four in a row before Montgomery cut it to 62-58 at the 52-second mark. SU was under the limit and had to foul four consecutive times before putting Matthews at the line. Matthews missed both free throw attempts with 38 seconds to go. Seattle U got the rebound and worked the ball inside to Jacinta Beckley. Beckley's layup attempt was blocked by Fluker out-of-bounds.

Montgomery, SU's leading scorer at 21.8 points per game, got the ball of the inbounds pass. Her first jumper was short. She got her own rebound, but the second attempt was altered by Fluker who grabbed the miss and was fouled. Fluker made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. Seattle U called timeout and advanced to half court where Montgomery drove the lane for a basket and a 63-60 score.

CSUN called timeout with 20 seconds remaining and advanced the ball. The Matadors couldn't inbound the ball, giving the Redhawks the possession. After advancing, SU threw ball into Beckley. Her three-point attempt was long as Matthews pulled in the rebound. She was fouled, but Matthews missed the first free throw attempt with 17 seconds to go. Matthews fell short on the second, but Fluker got the rebound and passed the ball to Hayley Tanabe who was fouled by Montgomery.

Tanabe sank both from the charity stripe with 12 seconds to go. Montgomery took the inbounds and drove to the basket for the quick two with five ticks on the clock. CSUN called its final timeout. After advancing, Fluker was fouled after she took the inbounds pass. Fluker's 13th and 14th free throws of the night went in, making it the final 67-62.

"Going in, I thought it was going to be a difficult matchup for us," Flowers said. "They presented some challenges defensively to matchup with. I think our kids rose to the occasion on the defensive end. We had to make more adjustments throughout the game than we normally do in order to counter what they do offensively."

Fluker's 13 blocks are the most by a Division I player in a game this season (as of 12/29/17). Her 13 blocks were only three away from the Division I record for most in a game. Sandora Irvin of TCU blocked 16 against UAB on Jan. 16, 2005. The Pasadena native is the 13th player in Division I this season to record a triple-double. She made a career high 14 free throws against the Redhawks, the 11th highest total by a Division I player in a game this season. Her 17 free throw attempts are also a career high and are the 12th most in a game by a D-1 player this season.

"Channon attracts attention down low," Flowers said. "She finishes down in the paint. She is continuing to improve as the season goes on. It is exciting to see what she is going to become because she hasn't reached her full potential."

Tanabe, the CSUN point guard, scored 11 points and tallied seven assists. Claudia Ramos scored 10 points and charted six rebounds for the Matadors. Montgomery tallied a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds for SU. Beckely scored 15 and added eight rebounds. The Matadors would hold the Redhawks to 30.5% shooting for the night (25-of-82). Seattle U would outrebound CSUN, 50-44.

The Matadors (7-7) open Big West Conference play next Saturday at Cal State Fullerton (5-8). Tip is set for 6 p.m.

"We are looking forward to compete in Big West play," Flowers said. "Everything you do leads up to conference play and the conference tournament. The goal is to improve and get better each time you hit floor. This is the first time that we start league play with a bye, so we will have some extra time to prepare and make sure we sharp when hit the floor on Saturday."

~www.GoMatadors.com~

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Team Stats

Channon Fluker

Hayley Tanabe

Claudia Ramos

Eliza Matthews

Players Mentioned

Channon Fluker

Eliza Matthews

Claudia Ramos

Hayley Tanabe