NORTHRDIGE, Calif.—CSUN defeated Arizona 66-63 in the third-place game of the Warner Center Marriott Thanksgiving Basketball Classic Saturday night in the Matadome.

Channon Fluker came off the bench to score the first nine points of the game for the Matadors. Fluker was 5-of-5 from the field before foul trouble sent her to the bench with 11 points early in the second quarter. CSUN led by as many as 11 in the first half and led 25-21 with just under six to play in the opening stanza. Behind Marlee Kyles who scored 10 in the first half, the Wildcats would end the first 20 minutes a 12-3 run and take a 33-28 lead into halftime.

The Matadors connected on three consecutive three-pointers to open the second half. The 9-2 spurt gave CSUN a lead at the 6:03 mark of the third. Arizona responded with eight straight to re-take the lead. The Matadors scored the final four points of the third to tie it at 45. Destiny Graham opened the scoring for the Wildcats in the fourth period with a jumper. A Serafina Maulupe three-pointer on the ensuing CSUN possession keyed a 9-2 run that gave the Matadors a five-point lead. Arizona battled back, cutting the advantage to 58-57 when Lucia Alonso made a layup at the 4:36 mark.

Meghann Henderson responded with a three-pointer for the Matadors. The teams traded baskets to keep CSUN in the lead by four. Sam Thomas drove the lane to reduce the Matadors’ advantage to 63-61. An offensive foul returned the possession to the Wildcats. Arizona had three chances at tying the score with just over a minute to play. Taking the ball out-of-bounds underneath the CSUN basket with 33 seconds left, Maulupe stole the ball and called time out for the Matadors.

Arizona was under the limit and had to foul twice. Maulupe would end up at the charity stripe with 22 seconds to play. The 5-8 guard made the first free throw attempt but missed the second. Fluker grabbed the offensive rebound to keep the ball for the Matadors. CSUN called timeout. Looking to inbound the ball from the sideline, the Matadors turned the ball over. JaLea Bennett took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup.

CSUN called timeout and advanced the ball to half court. Maulupe was fouled with seven seconds. She made both free throw attempts. Arizona called timeout and they advanced the ball to half court. The Matadors had two fouls to give. CSUN gave both of those fouls which took three seconds off the clock. Sam Thomas ended up with the ball. Her attempt was long, but the ball went off a CSUN player, giving Arizona possession with .3 remaining. The Wildcats could not get a shot off as CSUN took the victory.

CSUN defeated Arizona for the first time since Dec. 1, 1978 when the Matadors handed the Wildcats a 99-77 defeat during a tournament at UNLV. Saturday’s victory marked the first time since Dec. 10, 2013 that the Matadors have defeated a Pac-12 opponent (65-64 vs. USC).

Maulupe led all scorers with 20 points. She also added six rebounds and two assists. Fluker would tally 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The 6-4 center posted nine rebounds. Tessa Boagni scored nine points and grabbed a game high 12 rebounds. CSUN would outrebound the Wildcats 50-36. Bennett was the Wildcats’ top scorer as she had 18. Graham charted 16 while Kyles added 10.

“We were fortunate to come away with the victory and get back on track,” said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers. “We did a better job on defense today. It is going to come down to defense on this level. We are still working and improving. We are looking forward to Thursday night against Weber State.”

TCU won the Warner Center Marriott Thanksgiving Basketball Classic as the Horned Frogs defeated Idaho 86-76 Saturday night. Warner Center Marriott Thanksgiving Basketball Classic MVP Amy Okonkow scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for TCU. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammate Toree Thompson, Idaho’s Geraldine McCorkell, and Maulupe.

The Matadors (1-5) host Weber State (4-1) Thursday night. Tip is set for 7 p.m. for Faculty Staff Promo Series night.