HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team returned home for the first time in nearly three weeks but suffered an 82-52 loss to Point Loma Thursday at McCabe Gym.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) tallied her fifth double-double of the season with a 13-point, 11-rebound effort as the Silverswords fell to 1-12 overall and 1-10 in the Pacific West Conference. The sophomore guard, who leads the conference in steals at 3.2 entering the game, added four thefts.
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) added 12 points and three steals for the 'Swords.
Carol Schroeder led the Sea Lions (11-9, 6-7 PacWest) with 21 points.
Alicia Dugan (Renton, Wash./Peninsula College) had eight points for Chaminade with
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College) adding five boards.
Despite the lopsided outcome, 10 Silverswords got into the scorebook, matching the team's season-high set on Dec. 2 against California Baptist.
And despite PLNU's height disparity (six players standing 5-10 or taller), the 'Swords fared well on the glass, being outrebounded by just two (47-45).
Chaminade held its own in the first quarter, trailing just 13-12 after the first 10 minutes. The Sea Lions built their lead to double-digits but a steal from
Sephora Yayouss (Brussels, Belgium/Peninsula College) led to a Dugan layup to cut the deficit to 28-21 with 3:33 left in the second quarter. PLNU scored 10 of the half's final 14 points to take a 38-25 halftime lead.
The 'Swords came out of the locker room with energy, getting three straight buckets from
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Olympic College), Dugan and Benavente to chop PLNU's lead to just 38-31. However, Point Loma went on a quarter-ending 19-6 run to help put the game away.
Chaminade was held to a season-low 25.7 percent shooting from the floor and went 1-of-21 from 3-point territory. The 'Swords, who entered Thursday with one of the lowest giveaway rates in the conference, uncharacteristically committed 20 turnovers, their most since the season-opener against Minnesota State.
Point Loma shot 42.3 percent from the field and made 14 of its 17 free throw tries. They also had nine blocked shots, six by Grace Brady.
The Silverswords will face intercity rival Hawai'i Pacific on Saturday at the Blaisdell Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
