CSUN Defeats LMU 75-68 For Third Win In A Row

LOS ANGELES—CSUN extended its winning streak to three as the Matadors defeated Loyola Marymount 75-68 in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion.

Channon Fluker made her first four field goal attempts to set off of a 13-6 CSUN charge to begin the game. The Matadors held the Lions without a point for nearly four minutes as CSUN would lead by as many as nine. An effected LMU defense would bring the Lions to 19-16 when Makeznie Cast hit a three with 32 seconds remaining. CSUN held for the last shot which resulted in a Serafina Maulupe three-pointer that made it 22-16 after 10 minutes.

Andee Velasco scored five of the 11 Loyola Marymount points that reduced the CSUN lead to 29-27 lead with 4:32 to play in the first half. LMU closed to 31-30 on a Cierra Belvin three-pointer. Maulupe responded with a three of her own to extend the CSUN advantage. Meghann Henderson's free throws further increased the lead with 40 seconds left that would leave the score at 36-30 as the teams headed into the halftime break.

LMU switched to a zone defense to begin the second half. The tactic worked well for the Lions as CSUN would not score until 6:52 when Claudia Ramos sank a three-pointer. The Matador defense was strong, limiting the Lions to two baskets over the first five minutes. Through the exchanges, CSUN would keep the lead between six and eight points for most of the quarter.

The Matador defense would force LMU to miss six of seven shots in the final four minutes. CSUN took advantage taking its largest lead of the game, 52-40, on a Hayley Tanabe three-point play with just over a minute to play. The Matadors would end up with a 54-44 lead heading into the fourth.

The Lions roared to the first five points of the fourth before Tanabe again tallied a three-point play. LMU continued to chip away, whittling the lead down to 59-53 at the fourth quarter media timeout. Baskets from Maulupe and Fluker out of the time out put the lead back into double-digits for the Matadors. A Fluker free throw created a 64-53 game. Bree Alford's layup broke the scoreless drought for the Lions with 1:55 to play. LMU had a pair of fouls to give.

On the second, Tanabe went to the charity stripe, she missed both attempts. Tessa Boagni rebounded a Loyola Marymount miss on the ensuing possession. She was fouled. The 6-2 forward made both. Down 66-55, Cierra Belvin connected on a three-pointer. LMU immediately fouled, sending Meghann Henderson to the line. She missed both. Fluker came up with a steal as LMU pushed the ball down the court. Tanabe was fouled with no time coming off the clock. She made both to again make it a 10-point game.

Fluker blocked a Velasco shot. She grabbed the rebound and made 1-of-2 free throws. Gabby Green's layup with 34 seconds to go forced a 69-60 game. CSUN called timeout and advanced the ball to halfcourt. Tanabe was fouled with 32.3 seconds on the clock. The sophomore point guard was 1-of-2 from the free throw line. CSUN committed a foul to send Green to the free throw line. Green connected on both for a 70-62 score. Green fouled Maulupe who sank both attempts. LMU called timeout to advance the ball. Green was fouled going to the basket. She responded by making both of her attempts.

CSUN called timeout to advance the ball with 27.1 seconds to go. The Matadors were able to take seven seconds off the clock before Tanabe was fouled. She came away with both attempts to put LMU (7-2) down 74-64. The Lions called their final timeout to advance the ball. Boagni was called for a foul that Green back at the line. Green would make 1-of-2. The miss went off a CSUN player, keeping the ball in LMU's hands. Green's three-pointer with 12.6 seconds cut the Matadors' lead to 74-68.

CSUN called its final timeout which advanced the ball to halfcourt. Nearly three seconds came off the clock before Henderson was fouled. The freshman missed the first attempt but made the second. A pair of threes from the Lions in the final three seconds hit the front iron as CSUN left the court with the seven-point victory.

CSUN made more free throws (25) than LMU attempted (15). The Matadors were 25-of-36 from the free throw line (69.4%) compared to 11-of-15 (73.3%) for the Lions. CSUN held Loyola Marymount to 35.7% (25-of-70) and forced 19 turnovers.

Fluker nearly turned in a triple double to pace the Matadors. She scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked a career high eight shots. The 6-4 center also added three steals. Maulupe scored 17 points, charted six assists, and grabbed four rebounds. Tanabe ended the game 7-of-10 from the free throw line for a season high 14 points. Green was the top scorer for the Lions with 18 points. Belvin scored 11 while Alford recorded a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

"This afternoon was a good win for us for a lot of reasons," said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers. "Hats off to LMU, they are a good team. I thought we played well enough to deserve to win. We showed toughness at times that we need to show toughness to get the job done. There is a lot of room for improvement. We are still in December, so this team is nowhere close to being what it is capable of. We will go back to work after finals and start the process of getting better."

The Matadors (4-6) are off for finals until Monday, Dec. 18 when CSUN hosts Northern Arizona (3-4). Coverage on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health begins at 7 p.m.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

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Team Stats

Channon Fluker

Serafina Maulupe

Hayley Tanabe

Meghann Henderson

Players Mentioned

Tessa Boagni

Channon Fluker

Meghann Henderson

Serafina Maulupe

Claudia Ramos

Hayley Tanabe