SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Saturday's women's basketball contest between Chaminade University and Dominican University of California featured a matchup of the Pacific West Conference's two leading scorers in
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) and Natalie Diaz.
Although Castro won the battle against Diaz, it was Dominican winning the war with its 77-65 victory at the Conlon Center.
The loss dropped the Silverswords to 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the PacWest. The Penguins improved to 10-2 and 7-1.
Castro, who averaged 18.6 points per game, outscored the nation's leading scorer with a 19-point effort. The junior also had six rebounds and two assists.
Diaz, at 30.5 points per game heading into the day, was held to just 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the floor, all season-lows. It also prevented her from setting the Dominican career scoring mark.
However, DUC made up by hitting 14 3-pointers, one shy of the Chaminade opponent record. Alana Scott and Marisa Mondave combined to hit 13 of them with Scott making seven triples, one short of the CUH opponent individual record. Scott went for a game-high 27 points while Mondave added 18.
On the 'Swords' side, two freshmen set season-highs in the scoring ledger.
Jordyn Zader (Mukwonago, Wis./Pius XI) had 13 points, making 6 of 7 shots while
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) had 10 points including a pair of triples. Blowe and Zader also set season-highs in boards with six and five, respectively.
Hunter Liftee (Kamuela, Hawai'i/Central Methodist Univ./Honoka'a HS) had 13 points.
The 'Swords kept Diaz off the scoreboard in the first quarter by utilizing a sagging zone with constant double- and triple-teams.
With Scott and Mondave hitting from beyond the arc, Dominican managed to take a double-digit lead midway through the second quarter and led by as many as 19 in the third.
Chaminade opened the final quarter on a 10-0 run with Liftee's five points, a 3-pointer from
Sephora Yayouss (Brussels, Belgium/Peninsula College/K.A. Etterbeek HS) and a Zader layup. The surge suddenly brought the 'Swords to within 61-54 with 7:54 remaining, however the Penguins' countered by scoring the next seven points to help take any remaining drama.
The 'Swords shot 46.7 percent from the floor while Dominican was 45.3. Chaminade was 14 of 19 from the free throw line to DUC's 5-of-5. Chaminade also out-rebounded Dominican 36-35 but committed 14 turnovers to DUC's nine. Dominican also had 18 assists to Chaminade's nine.
The Silverswords continue the road trip Tuesday at Holy Names.
