HILO, Hawai'i – In the first meeting between the Chaminade University and University of Hawai'i Hilo women's basketball teams in Honolulu, the Silverswords were held to their second-fewest point total in team history.
In Friday's rematch at the AFook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, the 'Swords were looking to prove they were better than the Feb. 9 meeting at McCabe Gymnasium. Although the outcome wasn't different in their 89-49 defeat, the Silverswords had a better performance, despite playing short-handed due to injuries.
However, the Vulcans, celebrating their Senior Night, were like their namesake, hot like lava, burying 17 3-pointers. One of those seniors, Sara Shimizu, accounted for eight. Both were one shy of the Chaminade opponent record of 18 and 9, respectively.
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist Academy) tied her season high with 12 points while
Paige Relph (Las Vegas/Waianae, Hawai'i, HS) added nine for Chaminade (1-18, 0-15 Pacific West Conference).
Michaella Dean (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran) contributed with eight points and fell shy of her ninth double-digit rebounding game by one. She also had four steals and two assists.
Arianna Blowe (Monument, Colo./Lewis-Palmer) also had eight and five boards with
Lile Hina Oyama (Honolulu/Kalani) netting seven points and two assists.
Shimizu led UH Hilo (14-9, 11-8 PacWest) with 24 points.
The 'Swords kept pace with the Vulcans in the first quarter, being out-scored just 14-10, despite being outshot 18-to-8.
But UH Hilo caught fire in second and third quarters from long range, making 13-of-18 in those 20 minutes, after going oh-for-6 in the opening 10. In contrast, the 'Swords did not hit a triple in nine tries, snapping their streak of 33 consecutive games with at least one 3-ball.
Chaminade was 17-of-51 from the floor (33.3 percent) and made 15-of-31 free throws. They pulled down 27 rebounds, dished out five assists and had nine steals with nine blocks. Although they committed 17 turnovers, only two were in the second half.
UH Hilo made 33-of-63 from the field for 52.4 percent and 54.8 from 3-point range. They had 40 boards and 22 assists with eight steals while turning over possession 15 times.
The Silverswords will close the 2021-22 season Sunday at Hawai'i Pacific.
