Box Score LAIE, HI – Chaminade fell at BYU-Hawaii by a score of 78-69 in a competitive PacWest conference affair at the Cannon Activities Center on the campus of BYU-Hawaii.
The Swords and Seasiders were very competitive early on, tied at 8-8 with 14:08 remaining in the first half. Chaminade responded, going on a 10-4 run, capped off by a
Glacen Florita (Ewa Beach, HI/Pearl City) three to lead 18-12 midway through the first half. BYU-Hawaii answered and led by three at the break, 38-35. The Swords were hot from the arc, shooting 40% from three in the first half. They also shot 46% from the field in the opening twenty minutes. Chaminade's
Jordan Ahakuelo (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) led the way with 12 points; while
Rhani Kaneaiakala (Waimanalo, HI/Kamehameha) added 9 first half points and Florita added 8.
Brianna Jessop had 13 first half points for BYU-Hawaii.
The 'Siders went on a quick 8-1 run to start the second half and led the Swords 46-36 with seventeen minutes left in the contest. Chaminade did their best to respond, as a three-point basket by Kelly Costello (Wixom, MI/Walled Lake) cut the lead to three at 59-56 with 9:15 remaining in the contest. BYU-Hawaii answered back and won the contest 78-69.
Chaminade lost the rebounding battle against the taller Seasiders, 37-42. Ahakuelo was impressive for CUH, leading all scorers with 27 points, while Florita added 15 points and 8 rebounds.
Rhani Kaneaiakala tallied 12 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds in the loss.
BYU-Hawaii was led by Taylor Mann with 20 points.
Coach Keanini talked about the defeat: “We stayed in the game with hustle and effort. We were in foul trouble and had to play a slower game that gave them some fire. Our execution was poor and we kept giving BYU-Hawaii chances when we could've finished them off. Jordan (Ahakuelo) played really well on both ends and Kelly (Costello) and Glacen (Florita) got hot from three, but as a whole, we struggled.”
With the loss, Chaminade falls to 1-22 overall, 1-16 in the PacWest. BYU-Hawaii improves to 6-19, 5-12 in the PacWest. The Swords head home to take on UH-Hilo on March 3
rd. Tip-off is set for 5:30 PM HT in McCabe Gym.
