SAN FRANCISCO – In a game of firsts, the Chaminade University women's basketball team built an early double-digit lead Wednesday before hanging on for a 58-54 win over Academy of Art at historic Kezar Pavilion.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) accounted for nearly half of the team's points with 25 while pulling down 10 rebounds for the Silverswords who snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the Pacific West Conference. It's the junior's 12th career double-double and her 15th career contest with 20 or more points. Castro also had five steals.
The outcome not only gave 'Swords head coach
Arthur King his first career road win but it was also the program's first-ever victory over the Urban Knights since the series began in 2009. Chaminade was 0-17 against ART U prior to the game.
Hunter Liftee (Kamuela, Hawai'i/Central Methodist Univ./Honoka'a HS) had seven points for the 'Swords while
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Olympic College/Kapolei HS) had six and five rebounds as she battled foul trouble much throughout the game.
All 10 Chaminade players who travelled got into the scoring ledger. Although
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) and
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) did not hit any shots from the floor but both managed to score from the free throw line.
The Silverswords held ART U to just six first-quarter points, tying the opponent-low for a quarter (Fresno Pacific, Jan. 16, 2016) since the sport went to the quarter system in the 2015-16 season. Meanwhile Castro and Carter combined for 13 of the team's 19 points in the first 10 minutes.
Chaminade expanded its largest lead of the game just 20 seconds into the second quarter on
Arianna Blowe's (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) to put the visitors up 22-6. ART U managed to cut the deficit to just 29-26 with 1:16 left but a layup from
Grace Underhill (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) and a Dean free throw gave the 'Swords a 32-26 halftime edge.
Castro's second steal and breakaway layup in the third helped the 'Swords reclaim a double-digit lead (40-30) but the Urban Knights went on a 9-0 run followed by a Chanel Stuart free throw helped forge a 42-all tie with 37 seconds left. Castro hit two free throws with a second remaining to put the 'Swords ahead going into the fourth.
With Chaminade clinging to a 46-45 lead with seven minutes left, Castro scored the next five points to make it a six-point lead. Carter and Liftee supplied clutch shots to help the 'Swords stay two possessions ahead down the stretch.
The 54 points allowed by the Silverswords is the fewest since December 2016 (54 vs. Hawai'i Hilo). They also held the Knights to 18 of 70 from the floor for just 25.7 percent, the second-lowest opponent shooting percentage in team history.
Although they were out-rebounded 49-39, the 'Swords forced 19 turnovers which they converted to 26 points.
The Silverswords continue their road trip Saturday when they face Dominican University of California (9-2, 6-1 PacWest). The Penguins handed Hawai'i Pacific University its first conference loss on Wednesday.
