HONOLULU – In the latest chapter of the long-time rivalry, the Chaminade University women's basketball team will have to wait a couple of more months to try and end their curse against Hawai'i Pacific University.
In the first league game in the Pacific West Conference this season, the Sharks used a 22-10 first quarter to defeat the Silverswords, 79-55, Tuesday at the HPU Shark Tank.
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) scored a career-high 21 points while pulling down a season-high eight rebounds for the Silverswords who fell to 0-5 on the season and 0-1 in the PacWest. The junior guard made each of her first 10 trips to the free throw line, finishing 10 of 11.
Olivia Crigler (Hebron, Ky./Pacific Union College/Holy Cross HS) added 14 points and with two 3-pointers for the 'Swords who have not tasted a victory over the Sharks since March 2007.
Emma Morris (Tuscon, Ariz./Tanque Verde) contributed with four points and four rebounds.
Avery Cargill had a game-high 22 points, draining six triples for HPU which won its first regular season game this season (1-3, 1-0 PacWest).
The Sharks scored the game's first nine points with Cargill hitting three triples in the first quarter to help them lead by as many as 16 points.
Martinez would score seven of Chaminade's nine points during a second quarter run to whittle the deficit to 31-21 but HPU countered by finishing the half on a 12-5 run to take a 43-26 halftime lead. Martinez had 14 of the 'Swords' points while Cargill posted 16.
Down 48-28 midway through the third quarter,
Taeya Blakeney (Honolulu/Kaiser) provided a bit of a spark. Although she did not score a point or grab a rebound, she neutralized HPU center Abby Spurgin, the PacWest's leading scorer at 24.0 points per game. The Sharks scored just two points and committed five turnovers while she was in the game. Blakeney finished with three rebounds and two points.
Crigler hit both her triples during the run to help the Silverswords close to 48-34. But that would as close as Chaminade got as HPU pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Chaminade shot 28.1 percent from the floor, making 18-of-64 shots with 43 rebounds. The 'Swords got to the charity stripe 23 times, making 15.
HPU was 25-of-79 for 31.6 percent and made 21 of its 26 free throw tries. The Sharks also grabbed 61 boards and dished out 15 assists.
The Silverswords will make their home conference opener Saturday against Hawai'i Hilo at McCabe Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.
