LA MIRADA, Calif. – In the end, the Chaminade University women's basketball team ran out of time.
The Silverswords faced an eight-point deficit to Biola University with 44 seconds left and got it down to one with just seconds remaining. However a fourth-quarter cold spell prior to their rally proved costly.
The Silverswords were outscored, 11-0, during a five-minute span in the final period to allow the Eagles to escape with a 66-63 win Thursday at Chase Gymnasium.
The loss spoiled a chance for the 'Swords to get their first-ever win in Southern California, dropping them to 0-17 all-time in the region.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) hit for a game-high 24 points with five rebounds and six assists. She also recorded five steals to give her 73 on the season, breaking the own single-season she set last year. With 425 points, she is just four away from breaking Britnee Fonnesbeck's single-season record of 428 set in the 2006-07 season, the first year of women's intercollegiate basketball at Chaminade.
Hunter Lifee (Kamuela, Hawai'i/Central Methodist Univ./Honoka'a HS) added 17 points and three steals.
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) had a season-high nine points as did
Diamond Carter (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Olympic College/Kapolei HS).
Chaminade fell to 5-18 on the year and 4-15 in the Pacific West Conference. It's the second straight year the Silverswords saw Biola rally past them. In the same building last year the 'Swords couldn't hang on to a 15-point lead.
Biola snapped its five-game losing streak, improving to 10-15 overall and 8-11 in the PacWest. Jazz Benn had a team-high 15 points.
For the second straight game, the Silverswords forced 26 turnovers, turning them into 26 second-chance points. However Biola had a 47-29 rebounding advantage and its bench out-scored Chaminade's, 23-4.
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) and
Jordyn Zader (Mukwonago, Wis./Pius XI) had two bench points each.
After struggling to get shots to drop in the game's first 15 minutes which resulted in a 24-14 deficit, the 'Swords finally managed to find the bottom of the net. Liftee's 3 followed by three more from Castro got them to within four with 3:17 remaining. A baseline jumper from Benavente and a Carter free throw with less than a second remaining got them to 27-23 at halftime.
Chaminade came roaring out of the gate to start the third quarter. Liftee's triple began an 8-2 surge to give the 'Swords their first lead at 31-29. Biola regained a 35-33 lead but Liftee and Castro each hit 3s, a Benavente layup and another Lifee basket gave the 'Swords their largest lead at 43-35 with 3:38 left in the period. BU's 8-0 run to end the quarter tied it at 43.
Benavente gave Chaminade a 47-45 edge with 8:14 left in the game. But for the next four minutes, the 'Swords couldn't get a bucket as the Eagles responded with 11 straight for a nine-point advantage with 4:34 left. Castro's free throws ended Biola's run while Carter got the 'Swords first field goal in over five minutes.
With 44 seconds left and down by eight, the Silverswords nearly made a miracle comeback. Liftee and Castro combined for five points, Chaminade forced two turnovers and Biola made just one of its next four free throws with Benavente's triple with 3 seconds left made it a 64-63 game. Tatum Brimley made both free throws for the Eagles with just under a second left for a three-point lead but Chaminade couldn't get a desperation three-quarters court heave before the buzzer sounded for the game's final margin.
Chaminade managed 34.4 percent shooting from the floor to Biola's 43.4 while the 'Swords had 15 assists with just 10 turnovers and 15 steals. Conversely, the Eagles had 10 assists and 10 steals.
The Silversword finish the road trip Saturday at Concordia Irvine.
