HONOLULU – The drought continues.
The Chaminade University women's basketball team suffered one of their most heartbreaking losses of the season, falling to intercity rival, Hawai'i Pacific University, 69-63 in double overtime Thursday at McCabe Gym.
The Silverswords let a late three-point lead slip away on a wild, banked-in 3-pointer by Breanna McKenzie with nine seconds left in regulation, then saw a seven-point lead in overtime evaporate into thin air.
The loss extended Chaminade's losing streak to the Sharks to 22 games dating back to February 2007, the inaugural season of women's basketball for both programs. It was also the first overtime game between the two programs since December 3, 2006, the first-ever meeting which was won by the 'Swords.
Lilia Maio led the Silverswords with 18 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, two shy of the program record which she set last season. It was also Maio's sixth double-double of the season.
Shana Kawakami added 14 points and
Courtney Kaupu 11 as Chaminade fell to 5-15 overall and 5-11 in the Pacific West Conference.
Carissa McBride set a career-high with 10 rebounds
Spencer Gray had a team-best 18 points for HPU (14-9, 11-5) including two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to send the contest to a second overtime. McKenzie finished with 17 points.
Although the 'Swords led for a majority of the first half, HPU owned a 33-32 halftime edge.
The Sharks then built as many as an eight-point lead midway through the third quarter but Chaminade held HPU scoreless in the stanza's final 6:35, going on an 11-0 run, sparked by Maio's five points and layups from Kawakami and
Kristle Henry. McBride's free throw gave the home team a 45-42 advantage after three quarters.
In the fourth, Henry's layup with two minutes left gave the 'Swords a 51-48 lead. However they failed to capitalize, missing several shots and free throws, leaving the door open for McKenzie's banked-in triple to send the game into overtime.
In the first extra session, Chaminade scored the first seven points, capped by Maio's put-back. Despite not making a single bucket in overtime, HPU went 8 for 10 from the free throw line including Gray's pair which forced a second overtime.
McKenzie's layup 12 seconds in double overtime gave the Sharks their first basket in over five minutes as well as a 61-59 lead. Free throws from Maio and Kaupu twice tied the game including for the final time at 63-all with 2:25 left but HPU scored the game's final six points to ensure that the streak continued.
Chaminade shot 33.3 percent from the floor while holding the Sharks to only 29.7 percent, the lowest the 'Swords have allowed in contests against HPU in several years. The 'Swords also tied a program-record by ripping down 53 rebounds on the night including 40 on the defensive end. HPU had 42 boards, marking the first time that the Silverswords have out-rebounded the Sharks since February 21, 2007, a span of 23 contests.
However, the 'Swords committed 25 turnovers and made only 15 of 26 free throws. The Sharks were 19-of-31 from the charity stripe.
The Silverswords are on the road on Saturday when they face Hawai'i-Hilo on the Big Island. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m.
