Box Score PHOENIX, AZ- The Swords took on perennial PacWest power Grand Canyon this afternoon at GCU Arena and fell to the 'Lopes by a score of 90-48.
Chaminade looked impressive early and held a 15-14 lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half following two made free throws from senior forward
Rhani Kaneaiakala (Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha-Kapalama). Grand Canyon then responded with a quick 7-0 run to regain the lead for the remainder of the first half. GCU led the Swords 34-23 at the break.
The 'Lopes opened up the second half on a 9-0 run to lead by twenty points (43-23) with 17:30 left in the second half. The Swords responded with a 6-0 run in under 50 seconds to cut the lead to 14 points before Grand Canyon answered and earned the 90-48 win.
Rhani Kaneaiakala led Chaminade with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Sophomore
Hanna Curtius (Medford, OR/South Medford) was solid for the Swords, contributing 9 points and 6 rebounds on the contest. Senior guard
Dianna Zane (Honolulu, HI/Roosevelt) and junior guard
Shamyra Daigle (Lafayette, LA /Elsik) each added 8 points on the contest.
The Swords were 9-24 from three, good for 38%. CUH shot 32% from the floor while Grand Canyon shot 54%. The Swords were out-rebounded by GCU 43-30.
Coach Keanini commented on the defeat: “I can't be more proud of our team. We battled and fought the whole game. Our effort was incredible the whole way. Grand Canyon's size and length is amazing. The physicality just took its toll on us.”
Judy Jones led Grand Canyon with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 6 steals.
With the loss, Chaminade falls to 0-5, 0-2 in the PacWest on the year. Grand Canyon moves to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in the PacWest. The Swords are off until a December 31
st contest against Holy Names (CA) in McCabe Gym. Tip is set for 11 AM HT on New Year's Eve. The contest will be the first of three contests in McCabe against the Hawks in six days.
