CSUN Hosts Long Beach State Thursday Night

Women's Basketball Notebook

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN begins the push towards the Big West Conference women's basketball tournament this week as the Matadors host Long Beach State Thursday night a 7 p.m. matchup.

CSUN will be giving out 3-point foam fingers to fans coming into the Matadome. Thursday will also serve as Greek Night in the Matadome. Eric Kaback pregame show on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health is set for 6:50 p.m.

CSUN (13-12) is tied for second in the conference with Hawai'i with a 7-4 record. The top two seeds receive a double-bye into the semifinals of the Big West Tournament. Teams three and four receive a first round bye in the tournament while teams 5-8 would have to win four games in five days similar to what the Matadors were able to do last season.

The Beach fell to 7-17 overall, 4-7 in Big West action after losing 63-49 to Hawai'i last Saturday night. Shanaijah Davison is fifth in the Big West in scoring at a 14.0 per game clip. Naomi Hunt is the other Long Beach State player averaging in double figures (10.6).

Long Beach State and CSUN began playing women's basketball against each other in 1963. CSUN broke a four-game losing streak against the Beach when the Matadors defeated Long Beach State 51-37 Jan. 26. The Beach lead the all-time series 42-19.

Channon Fluker was named Big West Conference women's basketball Player of the Week for a conference record 14th time Feb. 18. Fluker broke the previous record of 13 which was set by New Mexico State's Anita Maxwell from 1992-96.

The Pasadena native averaged 20.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks per game in a 2-0 week for the Matadors. Fluker became the ninth player in Big West history to reach the 2,000-career point plateau with 18 second half points in CSUN's 73-64 victory over Cal State Fullerton Feb. 16. She helped the Matadors rally from a 10-point deficit in the second half after going 0-for-3 in the first 20 minutes. Her 2,000th point came on a three-pointer with 2:41 remaining in the second half.

Fluker opened the week with her sixth career 20-20 game in a 68-52 win over Cal Poly last Thursday night. She finished with 23 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Her 20-rebound performance was the eighth of her career.

Recently named as one of 10 finalists for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Fluker blocked 11 shots in the two games and added three steals. She has recorded 16 double-doubles this season to bring her career total up to 72, the second most among active Division I players.

Fluker has scored 2,005 career points. She is fourth active Division I women's basketball to have at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Her 1,355 career rebounds are the second most in Big West history and are the second most among active Division I players.

Serafina Maulupe recorded a season high 23 points in the victory over Cal State Fullerton. Eliza Matthews grabbed a season high 12 rebounds against the Titans.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

CSUN Hosts Long Beach State Thursday Night

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Players Mentioned

Channon Fluker

Eliza Matthews

Serafina Maulupe