SAN FRANCISCO – After struggling through the first five games of the 2019-20 season, at some point,
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) was going to find her rhythm.
On Sunday at Academy of Art she did and then some.
Castro who entered the game averaging a pedestrian 13.2 points by her standards, poured in a season-high 34 points – 24 in the second half – to lead the Chaminade University women's basketball team to a 75-68 win over the Urbran Knights at historic Kezar Pavillion, giving them their first win of the season.
The senior guard was 11-of-27 from the floor and sank 11 of her 13 shots from the free throw line. She also did it on the defensive end, setting a school-record with 10 steals, becoming the first Chaminade basketball player of either gender to record a double-digit game in steals. It broke the record of eight which she set last year at Azusa Pacific and is the most by a Pacific West Conference player since Point Loma's Savannah Erskine also had 10 in December 2013 (the conference record is 14 set in December 2007).
It was the first win over the season for the Silverswords, who improved to 1-6 overall and 1-1 in the PacWest.
Castro also took a huge step forward in the team's history books. Her 34 gives her 1,248 career points, just 19 away from breaking the program's all-time leader held by Lilia Maio. She also added three rebounds, three assists and a block. In her last three games, Castro is averaging 23.3 points while Chaminade also got a season high in points.
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) added a career-high 13 points in the victory while
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College/Kamehameha-Kapalama HS) contributed with a season-best 12 points and a career-high four assists.
The Silverswords also got a massive boost from guard
Jamia Bailey (Yokosuka, Japan/Yokota). The sophomore not only scored six points – the first of her career – she also had five rebounds and two steals, all career highs.
Chaminade also forced ART U into an opponent-record 34 turnovers.
Brianna Cates had 17 points for the Urban Knights (2-2, 0-2 PacWest), who made their home debut this season.
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) helped the CUH cause with seven points with
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) had three.
Cheyenne Ardona (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) pulled down a team-best seven boards.
The lead was not more than five by either team in the first half with Castro hitting for 10 and six thefts while Blowe had nine after the first 20 minutes, giving the 'Swords a 33-32 halftime lead. It was the first time this season the 'Swords have led at the break.
Despite making just 35 percent (14-of-40) at the half, the 'Swords limited the Urban Knights to just 9-of-26 shooting from the floor and took advantage of 22 ART U first-half turnovers, outpointing them 16-8 off giveaways.
A competitive third quarter saw five lead changes with Castro's shot just before the end of the third quarter put them up 56-52.
The start of the fourth was frantic with six lead changes in the first four minutes of the quarter including Bankofier's jumper just inside the 3-point arc which snapped a 61-all tie with 5:53 left, starting the game's key 6-0 run. Then with the 'Swords nursing a 67-63 advantage with under a minute left, Bankofier applied the dagger, draining a left-wing triple to put them up 70-63. Chaminade made five of its final six free throws to ice the game away.
Chaminade shot 40.3 percent from the floor to ART U's 37.3. In the pivotal fourth quarter, the 'Swords hit 6-of-11 from the floor while the Urban Knights were just 5-of-16. The 49-29 rebounding edge to Academy of Art was offset by Chaminade's 33-23 advantage in points off turnovers. CUH out-assisted ART U, 14-13, and made 16-of-23 free throws to 19-of-26 by Academy of Art. Both teams hit five triples. Chaminade also amassed 20 steals, equaling the single-game record set against Hawai'i Pacific in February 2011.
It is also Chaminade's third consecutive win over Academy of Art and second straight at Kezar Pavillion.
The Silverswords continue their Bay Area trip Tuesday at Holy Names.
