HONOLULU – The last time the Chaminade University women's basketball faced Azusa Pacific, the Silverswords suffered their worst loss of the season.
But in the rematch seven weeks later, the 'Swords showed the 49-point loss in Azusa, California, was not indicative of how they have played for most of the season.
Chaminade showed spirit in Thursday's 78-55 defeat to the Cougars at McCabe Gym.
Lilia Maio tallied her eighth double-double of the season with an 11-point, 11-rebound effort in defeat.
The Silverswords fell to 5-18 overall and 5-14 in the Pacific West Conference.
APU, ranked 17
th in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll, was led by Kelly Hardeman's 20 points and 12 boards. The Cougars improved to 22-3 and 18-1 in the conference, keeping pace with No. 4 California Baptist for the conference's regular season title and the No. 1 seed in next week's PacWest Tournament in Irvine, California.
Courtney Kaupu added 11 points for Chaminade while
Carissa McBride had 10 points and six boards.
Sabrina Angle knocked down three 3-pointers for nine points and
Kristle Henry ripped down a career-tying nine boards.
APU opened up a 7-0 lead just one minute in the opening quarter before the 'Swords answered with layups from Maio,
Shana Kawakami and a three-point play from Kaupu to close to 9-7. Chaminade managed to hang around the rest of the stanza and trailed 15-11 after the first 10 minutes of play.
McBride opened the second quarter scoring with a triple and Maio's steal and fast-break layup put the Silverswords down 20-18. However, the Cougars went on a 12-0 run over the next 2:36 to grab a double-digit lead they would not relinquish.
The Cougars opened up a 21-point lead early in the third but a 9-0 Chaminade run on 3-balls from Henry, McBride and Kawakami's three-point play brought the 'Swords to 48-36 with 4:19 left in the quarter but APU responded with an 8-0 run to end any notions of a comeback.
Chaminade managed to hold APU to 39.2 percent shooting on the night. By comparison, the Cougars were 47.9 percent in the first meeting. The 'Swords were only out-rebounded 41-39 as opposed to 48-38 against APU last month. They also managed to bury eight triples, although they suffered 28 giveaways to the Cougars' 10.
The Silverswords will conclude the season Saturday against Point Loma at McCabe Gym. Following the game, seniors Angle, Kawakami and
Kennedi Akana, along with junior
Bobbi Montibon, will be honored. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
