SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team wrapped up their four-game road trip to the Bay Area Saturday with a 63-52 loss to Dominican University of California at the Conlon Center.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS), in her first game as the program's new all-time leading scorer, had a game-high 23 points in defeat. It also gave her 1,307 in her career, becoming the first player in program history to eclipse 1,300 points.
Castro also picked up seven steals with two rebounds and two assists while going 5-for-7 from the free throw line, representing all of the team's shots from the charity stripe.
The Silverswords fell to 2-8 on the season and 2-3 in the Pacific West Conference.
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) contributed with nine points for the 'Swords who went 2-2 on the trip.
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College/Kamehameha-Kapalama HS) and
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) each had five.
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds and five assists for the 'Swords.
Jamia Bailey (Yokosuka, Japan/Yokota) contributed with five boards which tied her career high.
Jerusha Paine, a former All-PacWest forward at Notre Dame de Namur, had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Penguins (4-6, 1-3 PacWest). She also had 10 turnovers to complete a dubious triple-double.
Dominican shot nearly 52 percent (27-of-52) from the floor to Chaminade's 29.3 (22-of-75). The Penguins out-rebounded the 'Swords (44-33) and out-assisted them (16-9). DUC also hit five 3-pointers to CUH's three.
Considering the time of the year, both teams were in a giving mood. There were a combined 50 turnovers between both teams with Dominican committing 32, the second time on the road trip the 'Swords forced more than 30 turnovers.
The Penguins scored the game's first six points but with Castro had four points and Blowe's triple were a part of a 7-0 run by the 'Swords to give them their first lead. The teams traded scores with Dominican holding a 14-13 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Baskets from Nueku, Castro and Blowe helped the 'Swords keep the deficit in single digits throughout the second quarter. Although DUC shot 56.5 percent in the first half to CUH's 30.3, the 'Swords stayed in it with nine offensive rebounds and faced just a 27-22 halftime deficit.
There were 27 combined turnovers in the first half with Chaminade committing 12. Dominican wasn't immune either, giving it away 15 times and actually had more turnovers than field goals made (13).
The Penguins' 21-6 run to open the third quarter helped expand their lead to 20 although the Silverswords scored seven straight to help reduce the deficit to 15 at the end of the quarter.
Dominican built its lead to 21 late in the final quarter but Chaminade finished the game strong with a 12-2 run in the final four minutes.
The Silverswords return home to McCabe Gymnasium and for their final non-conference game of the season on Thursday, Jan. 2 against NCAA Division I member Penn. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
