Channon Fluker could not overpower Hawaii this time.
Cal State Northridge’s center has been dominant against the Rainbow Wahine in her three-year career, and recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds in the latest meeting Thursday at the Matadome. But even that was tame by her standards and she missed a 3-pointer in the waning seconds as UH held on for a 56-54 victory, its first on the Big West road this season.
The victory was huge for the Wahine in terms of qualification for the Big West tournament with three regular-season games remaining, including Saturday’s contest with Long Beach State at the Pyramid. The last-place team does not qualify for the tourney.
Seventh-place UH (11-15, 4-9 BWC) could still use a win at LBSU (5-22, 3-10) to secure its position. Tipoff is 2 p.m.
“This gives us momentum to go in and play composed against their pressure,” UH coach Laura Beeman said in a postgame phone interview. “To score in the halfcourt when we need to. Hopefully we can continue to put some separation between us and Long Beach. Fullerton (3-10) also won tonight, they beat Riverside. So it’s mucky at the bottom. We need to get out of the bottom. … It could really get weird if we went on a little run here and I think we’re going to keep doing that.”
Lahni Salanoa scored a team-high 19 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:09 left, and Sarah Toeaina added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Tia Kanoa assisted on eight baskets and Toeaina helped on four more.
Salanoa shot 7-for-10 from the floor, including 5-for-8 on 3-pointers.
Beeman said freshman posts Lauren Rewers and Mackenzie Clinch Hoycard played crucial minutes in limiting Fluker, as UH looked to collapse on her at every chance.
“They grew up tonight in the post,” Beeman said. “We’ve seen what Fluker’s done against us in the past, and they absolutely stepped up and executed a great game plan, and it’s really exciting to see them do that.”
The Wahine trailed for most of the first half but claimed a 27-24 halftime lead thanks to 3s by Salanoa just before the break. They held a narrow lead down the stretch of the game until CSUN tied it up at 52 on two free throws by Fluker with 3:16 left.
Salanoa put UH back up from the left wing, tying her career high she set earlier this season against Montana State. Fluker converted a layup to cut the lead to one with under a minute left.
Toeaina had a clutch steal with about 10 seconds left and got fouled, but UH turned it back over on the inbounds play when Kanoa passed to Toeaina as her momentum took her over the midcourt line for a backcourt violation.
But UH applied effective defense on the ensuing play by CSUN, as Fluker settled for a contested 3, off the mark. Kanoa hit one of two at the line for the final margin.
