HONOLULU – Every year when the Pacific West Conference women's basketball poll is released, Chaminade University is usually at the bottom.
But when the 2015-16 poll was released, that trend was reversed. For the first time ever, the Silverswords avoided being selected as the conference's caboose.
A strong core of returnees highlights this year's team as they look to surpass their record-setting 7-17 mark in 2014-15 as the 'Swords open their season Thursday at McCabe Gym against the University of Alaska (1-1) with tipoff set for 5 p.m. Live streaming audio of the game will be on GoSwords.com.
"I'm excited to see improvement in the entire program," said sixth-year head coach
Bobby Keanini. "The biggest thing we need right now are leaders. I feel like we will compete well with everyone we play. One game at a time and focusing on that one game we play without looking ahead."
The frontcourt:Now entering her third year, forward
Lilia Maio is establishing herself as perhaps one of the top players in what this season is the 10
th year in program history. Already she ranks third in career scoring with 581 points and is second in rebounding with 326. Maio's per game averages in points (12.6) and rebounds (7.1) is tops in program history.
Also back is senior
Kennedi Akana who last season became the program's all-time rebounding leader (345), although Maio is right behind her, and is also the program's career-leader in blocks with 67. Akana has made great strides since first stepping on the Chaminade campus as a raw and still developing player from Kamehameha-Kapalama in the fall of 2012.
Each year, the 6-foot-2 forward improved her game with her shooting percentage hovering near a respectable 40 percent but her rebounding average improving each season from 4.4 rpg as a freshman to 5.6 last year.
"A project," Keanini reflected. "Now she has possible all-conference possibilities. Kennedi played very little in high school but has been everything we wanted in our program and more.
"She has a high basketball IQ, a special player and a special person. I wish she had four more years."
Another returner is forward
Carissa McBride who has been a valuable reserve off the bench to help spell Maio and Akana. A solid player whose career field goal percentage hovers at just under 44 percent, last year McBride also demonstrated the ability to step away from the basket at times, hitting five 3-pointers.
A key addition to the team is
Courtney Kaupu. A JUCO transfer from Centralia College in Washington state, Kaupu is a proven winner, having helped guide Hawai'i girls basketball powerhouse Konawaena to four straight Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division I title games including winning it all in back-to-back years (2011-12) as a sophomore and junior. She also was honored individually as the Big Island Interscholastic Federation West Division Player of the Year and receiving
Honolulu Star-Advertiser Fab 15 honors.
Returnee
Alexis Bennett and freshman
Aloni Sykes adds depth to the front court.
The backcourt:The 'Swords suffered key losses in the backcourt with the expired athletic eligibilities of shooters Glacen Florita and Katie Buskey, who combined to make 72 3-pointers last year. But the team is hoping that several returnees will help offset their departures.
Junior guard
Kristle Henry is coming off what might be one of the finest defensive seasons by a Chaminade backcourt player. Her 57 steals broke the team's single-season record and her 2.7 steals per game average led the PacWest.
Guard
Shana Kawakami is also back for her final season of eligibility. While not putting up eye-catching numbers, Kawakami has been a steady force for the team as her assist numbers have increased each year. And despite her 5-foot-2 frame, her defensive anticipation on opposing shooters have led to five blocked shots last season, giving her nine in her career.
Also returning for her senior season is
Sabrina Angle. The Pearl City graduate is a dangerous shooter with seemingly unlimited range. Although Florita and Buskey grabbed the headlines at times, Angle quietly put together a season in which she buried 25 triples. She is also in prime position to become the program's all-time career leaders in 3-pointers. With 90 career treys, Angle is only seven away from breaking Florita's record of 96.
Also returning is junior
Bobbi Montibon who is also a perimeter threat.
An intriguing newcomer is
Chantal Yadao, who was an all-O'ahu Interscholastic Association guard at McKinley High School. Yadao hasn't played organized basketball for 11 years, instead opting for a military career in the United States Army following her graduation from McKinley in 2004. As a Tiger, Yadao was known as a dangerous shooter from beyond the arc and her five 3-pointers in the 2004 HHSAA Tournament was one shy of the tournament record.
Also new is junior
Taylor Babbitt, a transfer from Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho, who earned all-OIA honors as a senior at Mililani High School, and
Kiana Wright, a freshman from Pomona, Calif.
"I really like where we are and it's farther ahead than any of the years I've been here but we look to actually get a lot better as the season moves along," Keanini said. "The experienced junior class of returnees and newcomers who have experience adds some depth. We're exciting to watch and if we stay healthy, really good things will come out of this season."
