LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team came agonizingly close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the Pacific West Conference on Thursday.
However the Silverswords couldn't get shots to drop in the final two minutes as they fell to Biola, 66-61, in yet another close loss at Chase Gymnasium. All three of the games the 'Swords have played there have been decided by five points or less.
Breann Nueku (Honolulu/Clark College/Kamehameha-Kapalama HS) poured in a career-high 25 points, hitting 8-of-12 from the floor including 6-of-9 from 3-point range, the third-most triples made by a 'Sword in single-game history.
Destiny Castro (Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS) added 23 points, seven steals, five assists, three rebounds and two blocks while playing all 40 minutes for Chaminade which fell to 4-20 overall and 4-14 in the PacWest. It is also the first time this season the 'Swords had two 20-point scorers in the same game.
Biola was led by Stephanie Lee's 23 points to help the Eagles improve to 16-8 and 12-6.
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) had six points and six boards with
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) adding five.
Cheyenne Ardona (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) was the only other Silversword to get in the scorebook with two points while getting four boards.
Kali Benavente (Tamuning, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds.
Chaminade led for most of the first half, grabbing as many as a five-point edge midway through the second quarter.
Then with 1:34 left in the second quarter and the Silverswords up by three, the situation unraveled. A missed shot on a one-on-one fast-break opportunity, a bad pass and mishandled reception on an inbounds pass happed on three consecutive possessions, all resulting in baskets for Biola. Then Chaminade missed a wide-open layup attempt as time expired to signal the end of the half. The rough stretch turned Chaminade's 31-28 lead to a 36-31 deficit.
Biola built its lead to 46-39 just four minutes into the second half and it appeared the rout was on. But much to their credit, the 'Swords rallied back and cut the deficit to 51-45 at the end of three.
Then with 3:24 left, Aysia Johnson's 3-pointer gave Biola a 59-52 lead and it seemed the 'Swords were done. But once again, Chaminade stormed back, hitting back-to-back-to-back buckets, a pair of 3s from Nueku and Castro while the latter drove in for a layup and suddenly, the 'Swords trailed just 61-60 with 2:12 remaining.
Chaminade had three chances to either tie or take the lead but two shots were off target then an offensive foul gave the ball back to the Eagles who hit both free throws to seal the game.
The 'Swords actually out-shot the Eagles, 44.4 percent to 40.4, but were out-rebounded, 37-27, while their 13 turnovers resulted in 18 points. Chaminade forced 14 Biola giveaways but could only manage six points off turnovers.
The Silverswords' fourth game of their five-game road trip continues Saturday at Concordia Irvine.
