LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team on Friday fell to Biola, 81-45, at Chase Gymnasium, a makeup of the postponed Jan. 22 game due to Pacific West Conference health and safety protocols.
In the loss however,
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) continued her impressive on-court performance. The senior guard posted a career-high 19 points while pulling down 14 rebounds for her second career double-double, both coming in the past three games. She made 6 of 14 shots and was 7 of 9 from the free throw line.
In putting together perhaps the most productive stretch of her career, Dean recorded her fifth double-digit rebound performance in the past six games – a 12.5 average since the calendar turned to 2022 – while averaging 11.7 points in her last three.
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) added nine points while
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) and
Emma Morris (Tucson, Ariz./Tanque Verde) each added five.
Martinez also dished out three assists with
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) grabbed seven boards for Chaminade (1-12, 0-9 PacWest).
Amiah Simmons led Biola (11-6, 7-3 PacWest) with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Bankofier had the Silverswords' first eight points of the game as they fought back from a 14-3 deficit. The senior guard remained Chaminade's sole scorer until Morris finally got a layup to drop at the 5:34 mark of the second quarter.
Despite Biola's quick lead, the 'Swords managed to hang with the Eagles for the rest of the first half, holding them to just 4-of-17 shooting in the second quarter to trail 25-16 at halftime.
Biola greeted the third quarter on a 14-0 run before Martinez got the 'Swords' first field goal of the half, a 3-pointer with 6:15 left, her first triple of the season. But the Eagles continued their offensive surge, outscoring Chaminade, 38-14, in the third quarter, hitting 13-of-18 shots from the field.
The 'Swords were held to a 25.5 percent shooting percentage but managed to go 14 for 19 from the free throw line. They were outrebounded 45-to-34 and committed 17 turnovers.
Biola shot 47 percent from the floor and made 14 of 37 from 3-point range while giving up possession via turnover 11 times.
The Silverswords will complete their road trip Saturday at Point Loma, their third game in as many days.
