HONOLULU – Throughout the 17-year history of the Chaminade University women's basketball team, the program has seen a bevy of outstanding guards which includes the likes of Samantha Saito, Sabrina Angle, Shana Kawakami, Kali Benavente and Destiny Castro.
But on Monday,
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) accomplished a feat that none of them had ever achieved.
The junior posted the program's first-ever triple-double, logging 23 points, 13 rebounds and a record 11 assists. However, it came in a losing effort as the Silverswords dropped a 78-76 decision to Champion Christian College in the team's final non-conference game of the season at McCabe Gymnasium. Chaminade trailed by as many as 18 and mounted a furious rally in the game's final 15 minutes which fell short at the end.
Olivia Crigler (Hebron, Ky./Pacific Union College/Holy Cross HS) added 14 points in defeat while
Emma Morris (Tuscon, Ariz./Tanque Verde) contributed with 12. Morris also had a career-high 13 boards.
Martinez joined Saito as the only Silversword women's player to record a double-digit assist game as the former broke the latter's previous mark of 10 which has stood for nearly 16 years, back on Feb. 1, 2007. She also hit 10 of her 14 shots from the floor, just two days after being held to just two points at Hawai'i Hilo. Martinez's triple-double is also the first by a Pacific West Conference player this season and the fifth in NCAA Division II.
As a team, the 'Swords dished out 20 assists, the fourth-highest in team history.
Lile Hina Oyama (Honolulu/Kalani) dropped six dimes, a career high.
Alysia Pickett poured in 33 points for the Tigers, a member of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) but not with the NCAA or NAIA.
Led by Martinez's eight points and Crigler's seven, the Silverswords bolted out to a 25-15 first-quarter lead thanks to their 10-of-16 shooting from the floor. But CCC answered with a 14-0 run spanning first and second quarters before Crigler's acrobatic reverse layup which ended the Tigers' spree.
Champion Christian led by 10 at the half and expanded its lead to 61-43 midway through the third quarter. Martinez would begin the 'Swords' rally on a three-point play followed on the team's next possession on a 3-pointer by
Selena Buttery (Brockway, Pa./Brockway), part of her season-high seven points.
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist) added four points as Chaminade ended the period on a 20-8 surge, closing them to 69-63 going into the final quarter.
At the 7:55 mark of the fourth quarter, Martinez, who by this time had 20 points and 10 assists, grabbed a defensive rebound, her 10th, which allowed her to reach the program milestone.
With 3:07 left, Pickett hit a triple, putting CCC up 77-71 but Morris countered with a 3 of her own on CUH's next possession. Morris then hit a free throw which narrowed the deficit to 77-75 with 1:37 on the clock. The 'Swords then had two opportunities on go-ahead 3-pointers with a minute left but both failed to find the mark.
After both teams traded free throws, the Silverswords trailed 78-76 with 27 seconds left and had two more opportunities to at least tie the contest. But the go-ahead triple was off the mark with Chaminade grabbing the offensive rebound and the follow-up layup being missed. Martinez grabbed her 13th board but could not get a shot off as time expired.
The 'Swords set season-highs with 31 field goals, a 41.9 percent shoot percentage and 50 rebounds, the fourth-highest in program history. They also held the Tigers to a 34.7 percent shooting clip, the lowest Chaminade has allowed this season.
The Tigers hit 15 3-pointers with 47 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Silverswords return to PacWest action Thursday when they host Concordia University Irvine at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
