HILO, Hawai'i – The scenario from the Chaminade University women's basketball game Sunday at the University of Hawai'i Hilo was eerily similar from Saturday – a big first half lead which fizzled in the second.
A day after surrendering a 14-point first-half lead, the Silverswords watched a 13-point first-quarter edge evaporate into the Big Island air as the Vulcans escaped with a 53-46 win at the UH Hilo Gymnasium.
In defeat, however,
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) posted a career-high 16 points, hitting 6 of 13 shots while pulling down eight rebounds and two blocks.
Jordyn Zader (Mukwonago, Wis./Pius XI) added 11 points, adding three free throws which gives her 52 on the year, tied for second-most in the Pacific West Conference.
Additionally for Chaminade (0-8 PacWest), all 5-foot-1 of
Lile Hina Oyama (Honolulu/Kalani) snagged a season-high seven rebounds along with eight points while
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) became the first 'Sword this season in double-digit boards with 10, one off her career high.
UH Hilo (4-4 PacWest) was led by Kim Schmelz's 14 points.
The 'Swords were clicking on all cylinders to start, specifically Blowe who scored the game's first seven points. Zader also got into the act with a pair of triples, doubling up her season total. Chaminade had six baskets, four assisted, to open a 15-2 lead five minutes in.
UH Hilo slowly crept back and drew within 17-16 late in the first but both teams went cold. Bree Olson's 10-footer was the first score by both teams in five minutes, giving the Vulcans their first lead at 18-17. Thanks to free throws, Chaminade managed to go back ahead before finally ending their seven-minute field goal drought on a
Carsen Bridges (Groveland, Fla./Leesburg) 3-pointer which put them up 24-19 at the 3:27 mark and, eventually, a 30-23 halftime lead.
A Zader layup to open the third quarter scoring pushed Chaminade's lead to 32-23 but UH Hilo eventually caught up and took the lead for good on two Jenna Waki free throws with 3:14 left in the quarter.
Ultimately, the Vulcans expanded the lead to eight in the final quarter to which the Silverswords could not overcome.
Chaminade, which was outscored 30-16 in the second half, shot 27.5 percent from the floor. However they managed to hold UH Hilo to a 33.3 percent clip, its second-lowest in the four meetings this season. The 'Swords were outrebounded by nine but gave up just eight second-chance points.
The Silverswords have a full week off before facing nationally-ranked Hawai'i Pacific University for the final two times starting Monday, March 1 at The Shark Tank.
