HILO, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University women's basketball team got their first win over the season, downing Hawai'i Hilo, 59-54, Saturday at Vulcans Gymnasium.
Kristle Henry tied her season-high by dropping 17 points in the win while
Lilia Maio had 13 points and 13 rebounds to extend her program-record for double-doubles to 17.
Destiny Castro added 11 points, nine boards and three steals as the Silverswords improved to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the Pacific West Conference.
Sydney Mercer led the Vulcans (1-5, 1-3 PacWest) with 22 points.
Playing on the home island for the final time in her career, 2013 Konawaena graduate
Courtney Kaupu added eight points for the 'Swords with
Taylor Babbitt contributing with six. Henry had seven boards for Chaminade.
UH Hilo led for most of the game and was up by as many as 33-27 three minutes into the third quarter. But Castro ignited a 9-0 run with a layup as she and Henry accounted for each point during the rally, putting the 'Swords up 36-33 in the fourth quarter.
Shots from Maio and Henry put Chaminade up six with four minutes left before the Vulcan trimmed the deficit down to 48-46 at the 2:41 mark. But Babbitt buried a corner triple to put the 'Swords up by five with 1:43 remaining. UH Hilo again came to within a deuce with 53 seconds left but Chaminade responded again on Henry's three-point play.
Kali Benavente and Castro each hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The 'Swords hit six of their nine field goal tries in the final quarter while holding UH Hilo to only one made field goal in the final 10 minutes. They outrebounded the home team, 41-32, and took advantage of 19 Vulcan fouls to hit 16 of 23 from the charity stripe while UH Hilo went to the line only six times.
And just six days after Hawai'i Pacific University dropped an opponent-record 15 3-pointers against them Sunday, Chaminade held the Vulcans in check from beyond the arc, limiting UHH to only 1-of-11 from triples country.
The Silverswords will step out of conference action Wednesday when they face nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage at McCabe Gym. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
