FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Chaminade University women's basketball team opened the 2014-15 season with a 95-72 loss to the University of Alaska in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at the Patty Center on Friday.
Shana Kawakami had a career-high 17 points for the Silverswords (0-1) in defeat.
Sabrina Angle had 13 points, making three 3-pointers while
Kennedi Akana had 12, followed by
Glacen Florita with 11.
Kristle Henry contributed with nine while also tying a career-high seven rebounds.
Chaminade was able to force 22 UAF turnovers.
Jordan Wilson and Autumn Childers led the Nanooks (1-0) with 18 points each.
The Silverswords trailed by 17 midway through the first half, but Angle starting heating up in the cold Alaska night. The junior from Pearl City buried three consecutive 3-pointers in a three minute span, bringing the 'Swords to within 37-28 with four minutes left.
Chaminade continued to chip into the lead down the stretch as Kawakami scored seven straight, bringing the Silverswords to within five at 42-37 with just 29 seconds left in the half.
The 'Swords were able to draw to within two at 45-43 two minutes into the second half, thanks to four Akana points. But Chaminade was held to only two field goals over the next eight minutes as the Nanooks extended their lead to as many as 25.
The 'Swords will wrap up their Northern road trip on Saturday against Alaska-Anchorage.
