HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team ended the 2017 calendar year with a 76-66 loss to Notre Dame College Monday at McCabe Gym, their final non-conference matchup of the season.
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Olympic College) paced the Silverswords with 19 points and a season-high seven rebounds.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) added 17 points with eight boards. She also had three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) dished out a season-high six assists while adding 11 points and four boards.
Alana Nuuanu (Nanakuli, Hawai'i/Nanakuli) had three points, three assists and four steals.
Katie Karalic led NDC (9-4) from South Euclid, Ohio, with 14 points.
The Silverswords fell to 1-5 on the season but it was an admirable performance against the Falcons who nearly pulled off a stunning upset over nationally-seventh-ranked Drury at the Malika Sports O'ahu Christmas Classic on Sunday.
For the fifth time this season, Chaminade sputtered out of the gate and trailed by double-digits (20-8) in the first quarter. But as they have for most of the season, the Silverswords recovered in the second with both squads scoring 19 points. A 9-0 run helped keep the 'Swords within striking distance with baskets from Castro, Benavente,
Chloe Morrison (Edmonds, Wash./Archbishop Murphy) and
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College).
It's the fourth time this season the 'Swords have either tied or outscored the opposition in the second 10-minute set.
But the lead built by NDC in the first period proved to be insurmountable as they hung on in the final quarter to collect their second win in as many games in Honolulu.
Chaminade shot a respectable 49.1 percent in the contest, its highest of the season. Although the 'Swords were again out-rebounded, the margin was just four (35-31). They also dished out 14 assists to Notre Dame's 18. Bench points decisively belonged to the Falcons (25-10) but Chaminade led in points-in-the-paint, 38-34.
The Silverswords will take the Christmas week off and will return to Pacific West Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 3 against Holy Names. Tip-off is a special time at 2 p.m. with live streaming audio coverage on GoSwords.com.
