HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team experienced highs and lows as they fell to Dominican University of California, 82-77, Saturday at McCabe Gym.
Alanna Scott's 3-pointer with 1:07 left broke a 77-all tie to give Dominican the win.
The Silverswords fell behind by double-digits, rallied back to take a double-digit lead of their own in the second half before a fourth-quarter drought sunk them in the end.
Freshman guard
Destiny Castro, the reigning Pacific West Conference Co-Freshman of the Week, poured in a career-high 22 points in defeat, hitting 8 of 12 shots from the floor. She also hauled down nine rebounds with three steals, two assists and a block as Chaminade fell to 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the PacWest.
Lilia Maio had 19 points, eight boards and a pair of blocks for the 'Swords while
Kristle Henry tallied her first career double-double with 10 points and career-best 11 rebounds. The senior from Lihue, Kaua'i also had seven assists and five steals which is one shy of the program record she helped set last December.
Courtney Kaupu added 11 points.
Kali Benavente scored nine points and had 10 rebounds, both season-highs, while dishing out three assists.
Sandra Ikeora had 31 points and 15 rebounds for the Penguins (6-5, 2-2 PacWest).
The 'Swords yanked down 52 rebounds in the contest, the third-most in program history and the most-ever in a regulation game. The team had 53 boards in overtime games last February and in December 2013.
Chaminade led for a majority of the first quarter before Dominican went on a 15-2 in the final 2:32 of the frame to take a 26-15 lead. The 'Swords fell behind by as many as 12 in the opening minutes of the second quarter but Henry scored five points in a 10-0 Chaminade run helped give them a 37-36 halftime advantage.
The 'Swords came of out the break energized as Maio and Castro combined for 11 points and their defense held DUC without a field goal in a 14-0 run in a three-minute span in the third. Chaminade held as many as a 14-point lead before the Penguins' 16-0 run to end the quarter put them back up 61-59.
Chaminade again caught fire to start the final quarter as two Maio field goals and layups from Henry and Benavente put the home squad ahead by six but against DUC rallied as Ikeora hit three consecutive buckets to give them the lead. Maio and Castro each hit two free throws late to tie the game in the final minutes before Scott's go-ahead triple.
The 'Swords were out-scored from the bench, 25-6, but they executed their running game, out-pointing the Penguins, 14-4, in fast breaks. The game also featured eight ties and nine lead changes.
The Silverswords will face BYU-Hawai'i on Monday, which marks their final appearance at the Cannon Activities Center.
