HILO, Hawai'i – For the second time this season, the Chaminade University and Hawai'i-Hilo women's basketball teams went down to the wire with the Vulcans hitting a free throw with two seconds left for a one-point win back in December.
This time, it was the Silverswords who turned the tables on the Vulcans at the end.
Kennedi Akana hit a short jumper with two seconds left lifting Chaminade to a 58-56 win over UH-Hilo Saturday at Ah-Fook Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Silverswords improved to 4-12 overall and 4-8 in the Pacific West Conference, three games behind Academy of Art, which holds the sixth and final spot in March's PacWest Tournament.
It's the most wins by the team since the inaugural season of women's basketball in 2007 when it won six games. The 'Swords also defeated the Vulcans for the third time in their last four meetings dating back to Dec. 2013.
Akana finished with 10 points and a career-tying nine rebounds while
Glacen Florita led the 'Swords with 13 points. Both Akana and Florita returned to the lineup after missing Thursday's game against California Baptist with illness.
UH-Hilo (7-9 overall, 6-6 PacWest) was led by McKenzie Mangino's 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Chaminade lead by eight with 3:45 left before UHH rallied. Up 56-54 with 30 seconds left, the 'Swords had a chance to seal the game, but Florita mishandled the ball bringing the ball up-court, leading to a tying bucket from Mangino with 14 seconds left.
The Vulcans held the 'Swords scoreless for the game's first six minutes, holding a 7-0 lead.
Kristle Henry ended the drought with a bucket, followed by two 3-pointers from
Lilia Maio and Florita to bring Chaminade within 9-8. The Vulcans would maintain their lead until with three minutes left in the half when
Katie Buskey hit two foul shots to finally give the Silverswords their first lead at 27-26. The 'Swords hit four free throws then
Shana Kawakami's bucket at the buzzer gave Chaminade a 33-28 halftime lead.
UHH opened the second half on an 8-0 run to take the lead before Maio's bucket five minutes into half brought Chaminade to within a point at 36-35. The game then saw four ties and four lead changes before
Carissa McBride hit two free throws to give Chaminade the lead for good at 47-46 with 6:22 remaining, despite not having Maio available, who fouled out early in the second half.
Florita scored six points during an 8-1 run to help extend the 'Swords lead to eight, their largest of the game, leading to the contest's dramatic finish.
Despite shooting only 29 percent (7-of-24) in the second half, the 'Swords managed to shoot just under 35 percent from the field while the Vulcans were able to shoot 41 percent. Chaminade was slightly outrebounded, 37-35, but they forced 21 UHH giveaways and went 20-for-25 from the foul line while the Vulcans were 11-of-18 from the charity stripe.
Maio, Kawakami and McBride each scored nine points for Chaminade. For McBride, it was a season high for the sophomore forward from Leilehua High School.
The Silverswords return home to face BYU-Hawai'i on Thursday at 5 p.m. Live streaming audio of the game will be available at GoSwords.com.
