HONOLULU – For the first time in three weeks, the Chaminade University women's basketball team got a chance to face someone other than themselves.
After having seven straight games postponed because of health and safety protocols spanning 22 days, the Silverswords, who last played on Dec. 16 at Dominican, were back on the McCabe Gymnasium floor, their first home game in over a month.
The 'Swords battled back from a 20-point second quarter deficit Saturday before falling to Biola, 65-53.
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) and
Ellyonna Bankofier (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) each had team-highs with 14 points.
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) added 13 for the 'Swords who fell to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the Pacific West Conference.
Amiah Simmons led the Eagles (8-4, 4-2 PacWest) with 18 points.
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) tied her career high with 11 rebounds and contributed with six points for Chaminade while Martinez dished out four assists. Blowe also added two blocks, extending her blocked shot streak to 13 games dating back to last season. Blowe has 14 swats this season, an average of 1.8, which is third in the conference.
After spotting the Eagles a 30-10 lead with 6:04 left in the second quarter, Blowe's jumper began a 21-5 surge that extended into the third quarter, including a 15-2 run which ended the second. Bankofier hit three of her four 3-pointers during that stretch while
Jenna McLean (Snohomish, Wash./Cal State Bakersfield/Glacier Peak HS) sank a 17-foot straight-away jumper, her first career points.
The 'Swords trailed just 35-31 at the 8-minute mark but Biola went on a 10-0 of its own to recapture a double-digit lead later in the quarter. Chaminade managed to match the Eagles on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter but not enough to make a significant dent.
The 'Swords shot 33.3 percent from the field (21-of-63) and held Biola to 34.8 (24-of-69). They also held the Eagles' Stephanie Lee, one of the top 3-point shooters in the PacWest, to just 1-of-10 from distance.
Although they were out-rebounded, 53-to-34, Chaminade forced 16 BU giveaways.
The Silverswords will next be in action Saturday, Jan. 15 against Dominican at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
