Box Score HONOLULU, HI – CUH took on Notre Dame de Namur in a thrilling PacWest Conference battle in McCabe Gym. Chaminade came out and impressed early on. The Swords defense was tough in the first half, holding NDNU to 26% shooting and 19 points. Chaminade led 21-19 at the half.
Juniors
Nikki Tauau (Oxnard, CA/Pacifica) and forward
Rhani Kaneaiakala (Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha) led Chaminade with five points each in the half. Chaminade was impressive on the glass against the much taller Argos, trailing 22-21 on the glass.
The Swords held the lead early on in the second half, as Chaminade's
Jordan Ahakuelo (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) converted a fast break lay-up to lead 27-24 with 15:40 left in the contest.
Sophomore
Markeshia Manning (Kapolei, HI/Pearl City) kept the Swords ahead, extending the lead to five (37-32) with a top of the key three with just under ten minutes left in the contest. As the game went into the waning moments of regulation, NDNU's Trisha Malaspina made two free to give the Argos a three-point lead with twenty four seconds left. That set up Chaminade's opportunity to respond. Junior
Dianna Zane (Honolulu, HI/Roosevelt) penetrated the baseline and found Manning in the left corner for a three and the sophomore from Pearl City knocked it down to knot the game at 52-52.
The overtime continued the back and forth play, before NDNU's Natellie Saia connected from three with forty nine seconds left to give the Argos a four point lead. Notre Dame de Namur held on in the waning moments for a 66-60 win.
Chaminade shot 33% from the floor and Notre Dame de Namur shot 34% on the contest.
Rhani Kaneaiakala led Chaminade with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Zane added 10 points and 8 assists playing all forty-five minutes for the Swords.
The Argos were led by Natellie Saia with 22 points. NDNU won the battle on the glass 46-39.
Chaminade goes to the road for PacWest action on Feb. 20th at Cal Baptist. Tip is set for 5:00 PM PT in Riverside, CA.
The Swords are now 1-18, 1-12 PWC on the year, while NDNU improves to 6-16, 4-10 PWC.
