HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team Saturday bid a welcome back to McCabe Gym to former foe Grand Canyon.
Playing for the first time since they departed for the Division I ranks four years ago, the Silverswords went toe-to-toe with their former Pacific West Conference counterparts before running out of steam in their 88-55 loss.
The game was historic for the women's basketball team, marking the first time they've faced a Division I foe in a regular season match-up. A contest against the University of Hawai'i in November 2010 was an exhibition game for the 'Swords.
Chaminade fell to 1-9 on the season while GCU improved to 8-5.
Lilia Maio led the 'Swords with 13 points and eight rebounds while
Kristle Henry added 11 points.
Courtney Kaupu had nine for the royal blue and white.
GCU was led by Brie Mobley's 19 points. Casey Rarrick added 18, making all six of her field goals from beyond 3-point range.
The Silverswords proved they could hang in the game's first 20 minutes. Chaminade found itself down by four three times in the first quarter before Maio's bucket and Henry's 3-pointer which gave them their first lead of 18-17. Kaupu's free throw and
Destiny Castro's triple helped put the 'Swords up, 22-21, at the end of the first quarter. The 'Swords shot nearly 53 percent (9-of-17) from the field in the stanza while holding GCU to 42 percent (8-of-19).
A 7-0 Lopes' run early in the second helped give them the lead they wouldn't relinquish. However the Silverswords managed to hang around with the help of a pair of
Taylor Babbitt free throws and another basket from Henry to keep the deficit at 40-34 at halftime.
GCU opened the second half with a 9-0 run to up its lead to 49-34. The Lopes would outscore the 'Swords, 45-21, in the second half.
Castro ended the game with seven points for the home team while
Carissa Webb had six. Meanwhile, Maio's point total gave her 1,076 in her career, putting her just 65 points away from becoming the program's all-time leading scorer. Henry added four steals to give her 145 in her career and needs 22 to become the career holder in thefts.
Chantal Yadao had a team-best three assists which tied her career-high.
Although they were out-shot and out-rebounded, the 'Swords managed to force 21 GCU turnovers.
The Silverswords return to PacWest action Tuesday when they face Concordia University Irvine at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
