HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team played outside of McCabe Gymnasium for the first time in the calendar year although their game on Thursday was at a site they were used to competing at.
Playing nationally-ranked Hawai'i Pacific University at The Shark Tank, the former Saint Francis School in Manoa Valley, where they have competed in three games this season and nine since 2014-15, the gym familiarity was a non-factor in their 69-40 loss.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) had a team-high 12 points for the Silverswords.
Cheyenne Ardona (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) fell a rebound shy of her first career double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College/Kamehameha-Kapalama HS) and
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) had five each with the latter dishing out five assists while pulling down six boards.
HPU, ranked No. 11 in both WBCA Coaches and D2SIDA Media Polls, were paced by Abbey Noblett with 19 points. The Sharks are also the fifth nationally-ranked team the 'Swords have faced this season.
Chaminade fell to 3-14 overall and 3-8 in the Pacific West Conference while HPU improved to 15-1 and 10-0 in the conference.
Facing the HPU's potent offense which entered ranked 15th nationally in scoring offense, the 'Swords did not have their first point until the midway portion of the first quarter, an Ardona layup, and trailed 19-4 at the end of the period.
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) had Chaminade's other basket in the quarter.
HPU continued to pile up the points in the next quarter on its way to a 42-13 halftime lead.
After being held to single digits in the first three quarters, Chaminade managed 19 points in the final period.
Chaminade was out-boarded, 45-38, although the margin wasn't as lopsided as in past years. However, HPU doled out 22 assists, nearly three more than their season average of 19.4 which is third nationally.
The 'Swords shot 27.0 percent (17-of-63) from the floor to the Sharks' 40.6 (26-of-64). They also knocked down 10 3-pointers while Chaminade had just one.
After a grueling stretch where they played seven games in 15 days, the Silverswords get a much-needed week off then return home for a three-game home stand on Thursday, Jan. 23 when they host Holy Names at McCabe Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
