HONOLULU – The last time the Chaminade University women's basketball was on the floor, they got a record-breaking performance from
Destiny Castro in a losing effort.
On Saturday, the sophomore guard from Talofofo, Guam got another spectacular showing. However the final outcome was much different.
Castro poured in 26 points including the game-tying and go-ahead free throws in the final seconds to lift the Silverswords to a 69-67 win over the University of Hawai'i Hilo Saturday at McCabe Gym.
Castro also completed her first double-double of the season with a career-high 14 rebounds and also had four assists and four steals. She made 11 of her 15 free throw tries. Combined with her 38 points against Hawai'i Pacific on Dec. 9, the Notre Dame High School graduate has 64 points in her last two contests, the most-ever by a Chaminade women's player in consecutive games.
The victory also gave first-year head coach
Arthur King his first career collegiate win. For the Silverswords (1-4 overall, 1-3 Pacific West Conference), it was their sixth win over the UH Hilo in the last nine meetings in the series. It also gave them two points in this year's PacWest Hawai'i Challenge.
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College) added a season-best 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range for Chaminade.
The Vulcans (2-3, 1-2 PacWest) had a pair of 21-point scorers in Allie Navarette and Safia Sheikh, a transfer from now-disbanded BYU-Hawai'i.
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) added a career-best 12 points in the win. She sank a pair of 3-pointers on the night, her first-ever game with multiple 3-point baskets.
Entering Saturday's contest, Chaminade had been outscored 102-39 in the first quarter this season. It appeared another inauspicious start was on the way with UH Hilo jumping out to a 12-3 lead midway through the first. But this time, the 'Swords battled back behind 10 combined points from their Guamanian backcourt, capped by Benavente's triple to end the period, slicing the deficit to a 20-18 score.
Chaminade got its first lead of the game on Nueku's second 3-pointer of the game just seconds into the second quarter before the Vulcans recaptured the lead to hold a 37-33 halftime edge.
Hilo was not able to make separation in the second half with its largest lead being four. The 'Swords were able to take advantage with Benavente scoring the team's final five points in the third quarter to help give them a 52-51 lead heading into the final quarter.
After two ties and three lead changes, the Vulcans owned a 67-64 lead with just 46 seconds left. Castro hit two foul shots to cut the Chaminade deficit to just one but UH Hilo missed two free throws on the other end, opening the door for the 'Swords.
Castro went 1-of-2 after being fouled, squaring the contest at 67. UH Hilo then missed the potential go-ahead score and Castro went back to the line after being fouled in corralling the rebound with 8.7 seconds left. She hit the go-ahead shot but missed the second as Chaminade held a 68-67 edge. The Vulcans' Danielle Decosta then had her pass towards the sideline deflected by
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Olympic College) who was then clotheslined by Decosta in the scramble for the loose ball with just 0.3 seconds left.
Carter made one free throw for the game's final margin.
Chaminade shot nearly 44 percent from the floor while UHH was at 43.1. Both squads made eight triples while the 'Swords were 13 of 19 from the charity stripe. The Vulcans made nine of their 14 free throw tries.
Hilo owned the boards, 38-27, but the 'Swords committed just nine giveaways while forcing 16.
The Silverswords will wrap up the calendar year Monday in their final non-conference game of the season against Notre Dame College of Ohio. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
