HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team ended their two-game home stand with a 71-69 win over Holy Names Monday at McCabe Gym.
Destiny Castro continued her brilliant rookie season by logging her first career double-double (17 points, season-high 12 rebounds) as the Silverswords won for at home for the first time this season, improving to 3-14 overall and 3-10 in the Pacific West Conference.
Courtney Kaupu contributed with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists in the win. Teammates
Kristle Henry chipped in with 11 points while
Lilia Maio added 10 and
Kali Benavente eight.
Henry also had four steals, giving her 159 in her career and needs just eight to pass Samantha Saito's career steals record of 166. Meanwhile Maio also had one block, putting her just one away from tying
Kennedi Akana's career-record of 71. Maio is already the team's all-time leader in points (1,174) and rebounds (654).
The 'Swords tied a season-high with 21 assists. Their total dishes are also tied for second-most in a single game in program history as they also had 21 last December against Notre Dame de Namur. Benavente, Henry and Castro each had four assists on the night.
The Hawks (1-17, 1-11 PacWest) were led by Jeana Magana's 17 points.
The opening quarter when back and forth with largest lead being three, held by Holy Names. But early in the second, Chaminade went on a 7-0 run as
Jakarra Waddell scored five of her six points during the span to put the home team up 24-18. HNU battled back and took a 31-30 lead with nine seconds left in the half but
Carissa Webb put Chaminade ahead, 32-31, with a layup with four seconds left in the half.
Castro already had 10 boards at halftime while the 'Swords were able to persevere without Maio who sat out the second quarter due to foul trouble.
After HNU scored the opening basket in the second half, CUH responded as Henry's 3-pointer began a 13-0 run, giving the Silverswords a 45-33 lead. Chaminade scored 25 points in the third quarter, its second-highest scoring 10-minute session of the season as they led 57-44 after three.
Benavente greeted the fourth by burying a triple, giving the 'Swords their largest lead of the game at 60-44. They maintained a double-digit lead until the Hawks went on a 12-0 run over a six-minute span, cutting their deficit to 66-63 with 1:40 remaining. They would draw to within a single point at 68-67 with 29 seconds left but Benavente was clutch down the stretch, hitting 3-of-4 free throws inside of the final 21 seconds to seal the win.
The 'Swords converted 41.4 percent of their shots and hit 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. They also made 17-of-21 free throws for 81.0 percent and forced 17 Hawk giveaways.
The Silverswords return to the Mainland as they begin a four-game set in the PacWest's southwest region, starting Saturday at Concordia University Irvine.
