HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team experienced an offensive explosion in their loss to California Baptist at McCabe Gym on Saturday.
Although the Silverswords fell 90-84, they recorded their fourth-highest scoring game in program history as they nearly rallied from a 27-point third quarter deficit to make things interesting in the end.
In just her third contest in a 'Swords uniform, junior guard
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Olympic College) poured in a game-high 29 points in defeat, the fifth-most in a single game by a Chaminade women's player.
The Kapolei High School alumnae hit 10 of 20 shots from the floor and buried seven 3-pointers, tying the single-game record set by Marian Murphy against Holy Family on December 19, 2006, the first year of the program's existence.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) added 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Chaminade which fell to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the Pacific West Conference.
The Lancers (4-4, 1-0 PacWest), making their final McCabe Gym appearance before moving to the Division I ranks next year, were led by Lexy Ram's 25 points. The 84 points scored against the Lancers, which a year ago, advanced to the Division II national semifinals, was the most by a CBU opponent this season.
Chloe Morrison (Edmonds, Wash./Archbishop Murphy) had nine points, making 3 of 6 from long range.
Jakarra Waddell (Burbank, Calif./Long Beach City College) and
Sephora Yayouss (Brussels, Belgium/Peninsula College) each had six for Chaminade.
Every Silversword who played in the game had at least two points in the game.
A slow Chaminade start resulted in CBU owning a 26-8 lead after the first quarter and 44-27 at halftime. But the second half was a much different story as the Lancers had to hold on for dear life.
The 'Swords exploded for 28 third-quarter points and 29 in the fourth. Their 57 points in the second half is the most-ever in a single half in program history.
With 2:48 left in the third, the Lancers appeared to be on their way for a comfortable victory with a 27-point cushion (70-43). But the 'Swords kept chipping away and an 11-0 run to help start the fourth quarter got them to 76-66.
Later a 10-0 run – eight from Carter – got Chaminade to 86-78 with under a minute left. However in the end, the Silverswords simply ran out of time.
In the game's final 12:35 where CBU owned its largest lead of 27, the 'Swords outscored the Lancers, 41-20. Carter had 17 points during that time frame with five triples.
Chaminade shot 43.5 percent from the floor and, of 28 attempts from downtown, made 11, one shy of the program record set in January 2013 and again in February 2015.
They also out-rebounded the Lancers, 37-35, marking the first time in the nine games between the two programs that Chaminade had the advantage on the glass. Both had 17 assists.
The Silverswords are next in action Saturday when they host intercity rival Hawai'i Pacific University at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
