OAKLAND, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team wrapped their first road trip of the season with a 77-66 loss to Holy Names Saturday at Tobin Gymnasium.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) had 21 points to pace the Silverswords who fell to 1-11 overall and 1-9 in the Pacific West Conference. The sophomore guard also had six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Olympic College) added 17 points while
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College) got her first double-figure scoring game in over a month with 12 points. She also had a season-high seven boards.
Alicia Dugan (Renton, Wash./Peninsula College) contributed with 10.
Despite owning a 30-26 halftime lead – the first time this season in which they've led at intermission – the 'Swords could not keep pace in the final 20 minutes, being outscored 51-36, in the second half. Coming into the game, Chaminade had been outscored by just 11 points in the third and fourth quarters.
Elle Burland led the Hawks (3-16, 2-9 PacWest) with 20 points with seven assists as they swept the season series.
After spotting HNU a 7-2 lead to start, the 'Swords made three 3-point shots, two from Carter and another from Dugan to help give them a 20-17 first quarter lead.
The good fortune continued to start the second quarter with buckets from
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) and Dugan on back-to-back possessions followed by a Dugan free throw to give the 'Swords their largest lead of the game at 26-17. Despite the Hawks clawing back,
Jakarra Waddell (Burbank, Calif./Long Beach City College) hit an elbow jumper as time expired to give the 'Swords a four-point halftime lead.
A 17-3 run by HNU at the end of the third quarter put them up 53-48 heading into the final quarter.
Chaminade closed to within 55-53 just minutes into the final period but from there, the Hawks went on a 10-0 run to help them secure the win.
The 'Swords were once again on the short end of clearing the glass, outrebounded 46-27. Holy Names proved more efficient in the second half, making 19-of-31 shots (61.3 percent) while Chaminade was 14 of 33 (42.4). HNU also went to the free throw line 25 times (making 17) while CUH made only 12 trips to the charity stripe.
The Silverswords return home Thursday to host Point Loma at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. with live streaming audio on GoSwords.com.
