LAIE, O'ahu – Last season, the Chaminade University women's basketball team scored their first-ever win at the Cannon Activities Center. A repeat, however, was not in the cards for the Silverswords.
Despite a career-high-tying 17 points from junior guard
Shana Kawakami, Chaminade dropped a 63-52 Pacific West Conference decision Saturday to BYU-Hawai'i at the CAC.
Sophomore forward
Lilia Maio added 11 points and six rebounds for the Silverswords, who fell to 0-6 on the season and 0-2 in the PacWest. Junior forward
Kennedi Akana added eight points and tied her career-high with nine rebounds, moving her past Jordan Ahakuelo and Rhani Kaneaiakala into third for most career rebounds in program history with 356.
The Seasiders (3-2 overall, 1-1 PacWest) got balanced scoring as Celeste Claw, Megan Goodwin, Emily Nelson and Whitney Fieldsted each had 10 points while Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo added nine. Fieldsted also recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds.
The 'Swords were held to 28 percent shooting from the floor while BYUH converted 43 percent, and were out-rebounded, 49-30. However, Chaminade committed only 12 turnovers while forcing 23 Seasider giveaways and outshot them from the free throw line, hitting 17-of-20 (85 percent) to BYUH's 10-of-21 (47.6 percent).
The Seasiders jumped out to a 12-4 lead five minutes in but a 12-3 'Swords run, capped by
Sabrina Angle's 3-pointer gave Chaminade its first lead of the game at 16-15 with 11:50 left in the half. A mini-run by BYUH gave it a 7-point lead before the Silverswords again responded to cut the deficit to 2 at 27-25 with 6:42 left. But the Seasiders went on a 9-0 run to grab a double-digit lead and owned a 38-27 advantage at the break.
The second half was evenly played as the Silverswords were able to respond with each Seasider score. The 'Swords managed to close to 62-52 with just under three minutes left on
Glacen Florita's basket. BYUH then committed three consecutive turnovers to give the Silverwords multiple chances, but Chaminade was unable to capitalize with scores on each takeaway.
The 'Swords are back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 17 when they host Hawai'i Pacific. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be audio-streamed on GoSwords.com.
