HONOLULU – On paper, the match-up between the Chaminade University and California Baptist women's basketball teams were one-sided in favor of the Lancers.
But despite not having the services of senior guard
Glacen Florita and junior forward
Kennedi Akana due to illness, the scrappy Silverswords managed to put a major scare into the visiting Lancers Thursday at McCabe Gym before falling 68-59.
Lilia Maio led the 'Swords with 14 points – all coming in the second half – while
Sabrina Angle added 11 and
Katie Buskey 10, the smallest margin of defeat to California Baptist in the brief five-game history of the series. CBU averaged close to 44 points per win in previous victories against the 'Swords, including a 100-41 decision last February in Riverside, Calif.
Darsha Burnside had 16 points and pulled down a Chaminade opponent record 24 rebounds for CBU (16-3 overall, 9-2 Pacific West Conference). She also had four blocks.
Maio, Buskey and
Kristle Henry each had a team-high seven rebounds for Chaminade (3-12, 3-8 PacWest). Maio added a career-high five steals while tying her career-best with three blocked shots. Henry had six of the team's seven assists, also tying her career-high.
In the beginning, it appeared that the contest would be another decisive win for the Lancers as they opened a 19-6 lead midway through the first half and owned a 39-45 advantage at the half.
But the 'Swords came out of the break with vigor as Henry stole the inbounds pass to start the second half and coasted in for a layup. Then back-to-back buckets by Buskey and
Carissa McBride energized the home team, forcing CBU to call a timeout as the 'Swords got the deficit reduced to single digits.
The Lancers managed to raise their lead back to 13 five minutes into the second half, but McBride's first career 3-pointer at the top of the key would spark a 15-5 Chaminade run over the next four minutes. Maio scored 10 of those points on a pair of 3-balls and two layups as the 'Swords closed to 48-45 with 10:47 remaining.
Chaminade still wasn't done as another run was capped by Buskey's 3-point play with 5:28 left, inching the 'Swords to 55-54, their smallest deficit all game. But CBU's Cassidy Milhako put the team on her back, scoring six straight points to help seal the game down the stretch.
Although they were out-rebounded 60-39, the 'Swords were able to hold the Lancers to only 35 percent shooting from the floor. Chaminade, which came into the game ranked second in the PacWest in steals at 9.6 per game, tallied 14 takeaways in the contest. Henry had four thefts, taking over the conference lead for steals at 2.6 per contest.
Shana Kawakami added three steals.
The game also marked the end of Florita's streak of 40 consecutive starts and 43 games played.
The Silverswords return to action Saturday when they travel to the Big Island to face Hawai'i-Hilo at 5 p.m. The Vulcans won the previous meeting, 60-59, last December at McCabe Gym.
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