Box Score LAIE, Hawai'i – The Chaminade women's basketball team is treading into waters uncharted since its inaugural season.
The Silverswords rallied from a 12-point first half deficit to down BYU-Hawai'i, 72-68, in a Pacific West Conference game Tuesday in Laie. The win is the first-ever by Chaminade (2-11 overall, 2-5 PacWest) in the Cannon Activities Center and is also the first time the team has seen multiple wins in the same season since 2006-07 when they won six contests.
The victory snapped a 62-game road losing streak and a 51-game conference road losing streak, both dating back to February 2007.
Freshman
Lilia Maio continued her outstanding rookie season, recording her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Teammate
Kennedi Akana nearly had one of her own, putting in 17 points and ripping down nine boards.
Glacen Florita added 13 points while dishing out a career-high seven assists for the 'Swords.
Talyn Bevell led the Seasiders (0-12, 0-7 PacWest) with 19 points while Danna Lynn Hooper had 15.
"Coach (
Bobby Keanini) expects a lot out of us younger players," Maio said. "We try to work hard every day. We know the talent we have and that we can come out with wins.
"We have upperclassmen who push us and that helps step up our game and we come out and do what we have to do."
Chaminade also had key contributions from
Sabrina Angle and
Kristle Henry (nine points each).
The Seasiders controlled the early stages of the first half and held a 29-17 lead with 9:35 left and by 10 (31-21) with 7:16 remaining. But Maio scored eight points and Akana had four as the 'Swords went on an 18-9 run to close the half, trailing 40-39.
Maio (13 points) and Akana (12) combined for 25 points and hit 10-of-18 shots from the floor. Chaminade shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32) in the half while BYUH was 48.4 (15-of-31). The 'Siders also held the rebounding advantage, 21-16.
Chaminade retook the lead 90 seconds into the second half when Angle knocked down her first bucket of the game, a 3-pointer from the left baseline, giving the Silverswords a 42-41 lead, their first since early in the first half. But the Seasiders answered as Hooper hit a 3 of her own to give them a 46-45 lead, which eventually grew to six with 15:11 left in the game.
However, Chaminade continued to chip away at the deficit and with 4:23 left, Akana hit a free throw giving the Silverswords a 62-61 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish. A Maio jumper sandwiched by eight straight successful free throws down the stretch would seal the win for the 'Swords.
Chaminade finished with a 44.2 field goal percentage (23-of-52) with 35 rebounds, 15 assists, six blocks, 22 turnovers and 11 steals. Conversely, BYU-Hawai`i was only 25-of-68 (36.8 percent) from the floor with 44 rebounds, 19 assists with 22 turnovers.
However, the difference came at the foul line with the Silverswords making 21-of-24 from the charity stripe while the Seasiders were only 11-of-17.
The 'Swords embark on their first Mainland road this week and will face Holy Names in Oakland on Saturday.
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