HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team returned to action for the first time in nearly two weeks, resuming their participation in the annual Malika Sports O'ahu Thanksgiving Classic.
The Silverswords on Thursday faced the University of Sioux Falls at The Shark Tank in the first-ever meeting between the schools. And it was the Cougars who came out on top with the 75-41 win.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) and
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) each led Chaminade with 10 points.
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) and
Grace Underhill (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) contributed with five each.
Dean pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for the 'Swords followed by
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) with six. Castro had three assists and two steals.
Chaminade fell to 0-4 on the season.
Sioux Falls (7-0), ranked No. 19 in the latest WBCA Coaches Top-25 Poll, were led by Kaely Hummel's 16 points. The Cougars are the second nationally-ranked squad the Silverswords have faced this season.
Sioux Falls scored the game's first eight points before Underhill got Chaminade on the board with a layup at the 4:13 mark of the first quarter.
The Cougars were able to extend their lead in the second quarter, grabbing a 37-16 halftime lead, and not looking back.
Chaminade made 31.8 percent of its field goals while Sioux Falls shot 40.6. The 'Swords were able to stay even with the Cougars on the glass at 40 each. But the visitors from South Dakota capitalized on 20 Chaminade turnovers and turned them into 24 points.
The Silverswords will wrap up the Classic on Friday when they take on Cal State San Marcos at The Shark Tank. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
