HONOLULU – History has never been kind to the Chaminade University women's basketball team in regards to their all-time series against the University of Alaska Anchorage.
However, the 13th all-time meeting might be a sign of the ever-improving nature of the Silverswords' program.
Although Chaminade came away on the short end of a 77-60 defeat to the Seawolves on Monday at McCabe Gymnasium, it represented its smallest margin of defeat in series history.
Olivia Crigler (Hebron, Ky./Pacific Union College/Holy Cross HS) had a team-high 18 points for the Silverswords (0-3) while
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist) added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Emma Morris (Tuscon, Ariz./Tanque Verde) contributed with 11 points and five boards.
Vishe' Rabbs led the Seawolves (3-0) with 18 points.
In the 12 previous meetings, the margin of victory for Alaska Anchorage, a traditional West Region power, was over 50 points per game. This time, Chaminade was nearly able to match them, possession-for-possession.
In the first quarter, it appeared to be more of the same as in previous meetings with the 'Swords having difficulty dealing with the UAA press defense, suffering nine turnovers in the period in trailing 20-6.
But they began to find a rhythm in the second quarter. Crigler buried all three of her 3-pointers during a 90-second span and Morris' layup capped a 17-8 run to draw to within 28-23 with 3:4 left in the half. Chaminade outscored Alaska Anchorage, 21-16, in the quarter around and trailed just 36-27 at halftime.
The 'Swords managed to keep the margin within single digits heading into the fourth quarter but a 12-1 Seawolves' run to open the stanza would be too much to overcome.
Although they shot just under 30 percent in the game, Chaminade outrebounded UAA, 46-to-37. Their aggressiveness on the offensive end allowed them to make 31 trips to the free throw line, making 26.
Juliana Losalio-Watson (Ho'okena, Hawai'i/Konawaena) had a team-best five assists while fellow freshmen
Dezaray Carter (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts Academy) and
Destiny Piekarski (Littlefork, Minn./Littlefork-Big Falls) pulled down six boards each.
The Silverswords will face Multnomah University on Wednesday at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
