HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team will have to wait a few more weeks for that elusive win over their cross-town rival.
Despite a close first half and a third quarter that saw them draw to within single digits, the Silverswords fell to Hawai'i Pacific University, 82-55, Tuesday at Moanalua High School Gym. It was their 21
st consecutive loss to the Sharks dating back to 2007.
HPU used a 20-9 run during the game's decisive third period run to break open a close contest into a runaway.
Lilia Maio led the Silverswords with 16 points and nine rebounds while hitting three 3-pointers.
Carissa McBride added nine points while
Taylor Babbitt had eight points and pulled down five boards.
Courtney Kaupu had six points and six rebounds for Chaminade, which fell to 4-11 overall and 4-7 in the Pacific West Conference.
Cece Pearl led the Sharks (11-7, 8-3) with 20 points while adding eight boards.
HPU jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start but Babbitt and Maio hit consecutive 3s, followed by Babbitt's breakaway layup to give the 'Swords an 8-6 lead. The undermanned Silverswords continued to battle trailing only 18-14 at the end of the first quarter. An 11-0 HPU run put the home team up by 16 but Maio's three free throws, Kaupu's triple and McBride's layup ended an 8-0 'Swords run to end the half with Chaminade down 38-28.
Chaminade closed to within nine four minutes into the third quarter but HPU scored 10 of the last 13 points of the frame to build an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Sharks then scored seven straight early in the fourth quarter to effectively put the game out of reach.
Chaminade was held to only 15 made basketball, shooting just under 35 percent from the floor while HPU made 27 for 43.5 percent. The 'Swords were able to knock down eight triples but were only 17-of-31 from the free throw line. HPU made 22 of its 25 foul shot and committed only nine turnovers to the CUH's 20. The Sharks also held the rebounding edge, 39-32.
The game was also marred by five combined technical fouls by both teams.
The Silverswords will begin their second Mainland trip of the year Saturday at Academy of Art.
