OAKLAND, Calif. –
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) set two single-game records and tied another Tuesday as the Chaminade University women's basketball team defeated Holy Names, 90-86, at Tobin Gymnasium.
Castro broke the program's scoring record with 40 points and tied her own standard with seven steals as the Silverswords improved to 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Pacific West Conference. The junior guard previously owned both milestones of scoring (38 against Hawai'i Pacific University on Dec. 9, 2017) and steals (seven against Dixie State on Feb. 1, 2018).
She also made 15 of 20 shots from the floor, breaking the 12-year-old record of field goals made which was previously held by Brittnee Fonnesbeck who sank 14 against Central Washington on Nov. 21, 2006, the first-ever game in the history of Chaminade women's hoops. Castro's 75 percent shooting percentage is also second-best ever in games of 10 or more made field goals.
Castro's 40-point outburst is just the second 40-point game this season accomplished by a PacWest women's player and the 12th in Division II.
Hunter Liftee (Kamuela, Hawai'i/Central Methodist Univ./Honoka'a HS) scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half while pulling down seven rebounds.
Jordyn Zader (Mukwonago, Wis./Pius XI) and
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) each added eight points with
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) tying her season-best with seven points.
Grace Underhill (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) contributed with six points while tying her season-high with seven boards.
Onjalise Carley-Hillard and Ariana Hernandez led Holy Names (1-14, 1-8 PacWest) with 15 points each.
Castro was a one-person wrecking crew with 21 points and six steals in the first half alone as the game was deadlocked at 41 at halftime.
The fourth quarter proved frantic with seven ties and 10 lead changes. The 'Swords were on the verge of pulling away when Bankofier nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to give them a 79-74 lead with 4:31 left. But the Hawks rallied and tied it at 79 on Carley-Hillard's bucket two minutes later.
Castro took over from there. On the ensuing possession, she scored Chaminade's next seven points including an old-fashion three-point play which gave them the lead for good.
After HNU drew to within 86-85, the 'Swords got a huge break when Hernandez scooped up a loose ball at midcourt with 25 seconds left with no one between her and the basket. But instead of driving for the go-ahead layup, she inexplicably pulled up and launched a 22-foot 3-point attempt which fell short. Chaminade grabbed the rebound but gave the break back to Holy Names when Castro missed both free throws which would've given them a three-point edge with 11 seconds left.
But the Hawks couldn't get the go-ahead shot as Monica Valenzuela's jumper was no good. Liftee then hit both foul shots giving Chaminade the 88-85 lead. Holy Names then got another break on its next possession when Alexandra Candelario was awarded three free throws with just three seconds left when she was fouled tossing up a wild shot from the right elbow.
Candelario made the first but missed the second, prompting her to intentionally miss the third for a potential tying put-back. Underhill grabbed the board, was fouled and hit both free throws to seal the game.
No team had more than a six-point lead in the contest as the 'Swords avenged their December 15 defeat to Holy Names at home which evened the season series.
Chaminade shot 48.5 percent from the field and made 22 of 29 free throw attempts. The 'Swords also had 33 boards and nine assists with 14 steals. HNU shot 44 percent, making nine triples and 11-of-17 free throws. The Hawks had 35 rebounds and 21 assists but also committed 20 turnovers.
Coupled with their win at Academy of Art last week, the 'Swords won multiple games on a single mainland road trip for just the second time in program history. The only instance was in the 2014-15 season with wins at Notre Dame de Namur and HNU.
The Silverswords conclude their long five-game, 12-day road trip Thursday at NDNU.
