HONOLULU – The last time the Chaminade University women's basketball team was on the floor, the Silverswords made one of the most memorable comebacks in program history with a last-second win over Minot State.
In Friday's O'ahu Thanksgiving Classic finale, the Silverswords this time fell short, suffering an 82-77 loss to Northwestern Oklahoma State in what was also their regular season home opener at McCabe Gymnasium.
Hunter Liftee (Kamuela, Hawai'i/Central Methodist Univ./Honoka'a HS) had season-highs of 25 points and six rebounds in defeat as Chaminade fell to 1-2 on the season.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) had yet another solid effort for the 'Swords with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Kalea King led the Rangers (2-4) with 22 points.
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Olympic College/Kaploei HS) had nine points and seven boards for Chaminade while
Grace Underhill (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) added eight points. Underhill, a 5-foot-11 freshman forward showed long range touch with a pair of 3-pointers while also getting four rebounds. Another freshman,
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas), had four assists off the bench.
A 16-3 run by Northwestern Oklahoma to end the first quarter put the visitors up 28-17 after the game's first 10 minutes but the 'Swords managed to whittle the deficit into single digits at halftime, trailing 38-31.
In the fourth, Chaminade finally grabbed its first lead since early in the first quarter on a pair of Castro free throws which made it 60-59 with 7:58 remaining. However NWOSU's Jade Jones buried a triple on the ensuing possession to put them back in front then 90 seconds later, King added a three-point play to put them up 65-60.
The Silverswords would get buckets from Castro and Liftee but Northwestern Oklahoma answered with scores of its own. Baskets from
Sephora Yayouss (Brussels, Belgium/Peninsula College/K.A. Etterbeek HS) and
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) with under a minute left helped keep Chaminade within striking distance but the Rangers made five of their last seven free throws attempts in the final 25 seconds to preserve the win.
Despite CUH shooting 39.4 percent to NWOSU's 37.7, making more field goals (28-23), dishing out more assists (15-11) and causing 15 turnovers, the Rangers hit 10 triples and feasted at the line, making 26 of 35. Chaminade made seven 3-pointers – with Liftee making four – and went to the line 19 times, making 14.
The Silverswords are next in action on Thursday when they open Pacific West Conference action against Fresno Pacific at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
