RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team experienced both a first and last in Thursday's 79-51 loss to California Baptist.
The first: Playing in the brand-new 5,050-seat CBU Event Center which opened last November.
The last: It was the final meeting between the two programs since the Lancers joined the Pacific West Conference in 2011. CBU departs for the NCAA Division I ranks next year as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, Hawai'i/Olympic College) tallied a team-high 20 points with six rebounds for the Silverswords who fell to 2-17 overall and 2-15 in the PacWest.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) returned after missing most of Monday's game against Azusa Pacific with an injury with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals. Castro's four thefts gave her 58 on the year, setting the program's single-season record of 57 previously held by Kristle Henry during the 2014-15 season.
Alicia Dugan (Renton, Wash./Peninsula College) also had 11 points, hitting 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Georgia Dale led the Lancers (14-11, 11-6 PacWest) with 22 points. CBU also won all 10 meetings in the seven-year-old series.
CBU got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 9-0 lead but Carter scored eight straight Chaminade points to close the 'Swords to 13-10 with just over 90 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Lancers eventually built their edge to 33-19 with four minutes left in the half but Dugan and Castro combined for the game's next seven points as the Silverswords closed to 33-26. CBU led 41-29 at halftime.
The 'Swords refused to go away in the third, staying within 12 points before the Lancers went on a 17-2 run which spanned quarters to put the game away.
Chaminade shot just below 34 percent in the game while California Baptist was at 47.7. CBU also had a sizeable advantage on the boards (53-24) and points in the paint (36-18). However, the 'Swords did force 22 Lancers giveaways, CBU's most in nearly a month.
The Silverswords conclude the road trip Saturday in their first-ever meeting against Biola.
