ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Chaminade University women's basketball team returned to action for the first time in 19 days, but fell to Dixie State 103-86 in a Pacific West Conference game Tuesday at Burns Arena.
Playing outside O'ahu for the first time this season, the Silverswords got a career-high 26 points from
Lilia Maio and 16 from
Kristle Henry as they lost their third straight, falling to 3-6 overall and 3-2 in the PacWest.
Courtney Kaupu added 11 points with
Shana Kawakami's 10 points for the 'Swords while
Chantal Yadao contributed a career-best 10 points.
DSU forward Taylor Mann had a game-high 25 points with 11 rebounds as the Red Storm improved to 2-8 and 2-2 in the conference. Mann was 12-of-15 from the floor.
Despite falling a rebound shy of a double-double for the second consecutive game, Maio also had season-highs with four steals and three blocks. The point total for the junior forward from Nanakuli, O'ahu gave her 724 points, becoming only the second Silversword to eclipse the 700-point mark. Maio's nine boards also gave her 400 in her career to become the first 'Sword to ever reach that mark.
Kaupu, Yadao and
Carissa McBride each pulled down six rebounds for Chaminade with Kawakami had a team-high four assists and had a career-best three blocks as the 'Swords also tied a single-game program record with nine rejections.
Chaminade had a season-high 38 first-half points, but Dixie State had 51 at the break with Mann accounting for 21. The Silverswords kept the margin close but the Red Storm's 12-0 run late in the second quarter pushed their lead to as many as 16. Free throws from Maio and
Chantal Yadao and Kawakami's layup helped to reduce the deficit down to 13 at halftime.
The Silverswords whittled the deficit to nine at 67-58 on Maio's 3-pointer with 1:28 left in the third quarter but they could never make a sustained run in the second half. The Red Storm's 13-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters would give them an 80-60 lead which helped them put the game away. Despite the margin of defeat, the 'Swords managed 48 second-half points and 28 in the fourth quarter.
The difference proved to be Dixie State's ability to crash the glass. The Red Storm out-rebounded the Silverswords 55-41 including 28-16 on the offensive boards. DSU owned a 27-19 advantage on second-chance points and 60-42 inside the paint.
Both teams had respectable shooting performances with Chaminade at 45.7 percent while Dixie State was 47.9. The 'Swords were able to force 22 Red Storm turnovers but committed 24 themselves. DSU also had 25 assists.
The 'Swords continue the road trip Thursday at No. 4 California Baptist, the preseason pick to repeat as PacWest champions.
