HONOLULU – Back in the friendly confines of McCabe Gym, the Chaminade University women's basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 62-58 win over Fresno Pacific Saturday.
The Silverswords, who last played at home on Dec. 10 – a span of 37 days – got a season-high 18 points from
Shana Kawakami and 17 points and eight rebounds from
Lilia Maio as they improved to 4-8 overall. The 'Swords also evened their Pacific West Conference mark to 4-4.
The Sunbirds were led by Jasmine Shedrick who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. FPU fell to 2-13 and 0-9.
The outcome proved gutsy by the Silverswords who played only seven players due to illness. Playing in her first game in over a month,
Sabrina Angle made her first start in nearly two years and made the most of it by adding 11 points and tying her career-high with seven rebounds. She also hit three 3-pointers giving her 97 career triples to become the program's all-time leader, passing Glacen Florita's previous record of 96.
Kawakami also dished out four assists while Angle had three.
Courtney Kaupu had a solid overall game with eight points, nine rebounds and five steals.
Both teams started out cold in the opening quarter as the teams combined to make only 3 of 25 shots in the first eight minutes. Angle hit her first triple of the game with 1:46 left in the quarter to spark a 7-0 run to help give the 'Swords a 12-6 lead heading into the second quarter.
Fresno Pacific whittled the deficit to 17-15 midway through the next period then
Carissa McBride buried a wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the key. Buckets from
Taylor Babbitt and Maio followed by Angle's second trifecta helped Chaminade build a 31-18 lead at the half.
Angle hit another triple to begin the third quarter to give the Silverswords their largest lead of the game at 34-18. But the Sunbirds outscored the 'Swords 17-4 to pull to within a point at 40-39 at the end of three quarters.
Kawakami then helped provide the 'Swords with separation to begin the fourth, scoring eight of the team's 14 points as they built their lead back to double-digits at 54-43 with 5:26 left. However, FPU had plenty of resolve left as Abrina Salas' layup with two minutes left made it a one-point game. But free throws from Kawakami and McBride and a short jumper from Maio would help keep things at a two-possession game as the 'Swords hung on for the win.
The 'Swords were 21-of-61 from the floor for 34.4 percent but they also held the Sunbirds to 22 of 62 shooting for 35.5 percent. Both squads hit five triples and had 43 rebounds while FPU had 12 assists to CUH's 11. But Chaminade made 15 of its 25 free throws while Fresno Pacific was only 9-of-17 from the charity stripe.
Chaminade also amassed 17 steals as each 'Swords who got on the court had at least one theft in the contest.
The Silverswords' three-game home-stand continues Monday when they host Dominican at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. with live streaming audio coverage on GoSwords.com.
