HONOLULU – The 2023-24 season for the Chaminade University women's basketball team got off to a rousing success on Friday.
Four Silverswords reached the double-digit plateau in scoring to down Evergreen State, 78-65, at McCabe Gymnasium.
Freshman
Madison Gage (Broomfield, Colo./Legacy) notched 17 points with three 3-pointers in her collegiate debut while another newcomer,
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern College/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) added 15 off the bench to help the 'Swords win their first home game in nearly two years, a span of 29 contests.
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) added 14 points with another newcomer in transfer
Ashley Holen (Watford City, N.D./Minot State Univ./Watford City HS) chipped in with 10 and a team-high four assists.
Another freshman,
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) hauled in nine rebounds with Gage and Elmarsi each pulling down six.
Abby Mundy led the Geoducks with 13 points.
Chaminade trailed just twice in the opening minutes, at 2-0 and 4-2, then scored 10 straight points to take a 12-4 edge. Gage had five during the run while
Emma Morris (Tucson, Ariz./Tanque Verde) added three.
ESC closed to within 28-23 in the second quarter but Martinez scored 10 points as the 'Swords went on an 18-2 surge to build their lead to 20.
Chaminade led by as many as 27 in the third quarter before Evergreen State would make a run in the fourth, closing to within 75-62 with four minutes left. But the Geoducks went cold and went without a point until there was just 35 seconds left.
The 'Swords shot 40.7 percent from the floor and made 6-of-17 from 3-point range. They also got to the free throw line, making 24-of-32 shots from the charity stripe. ESC shot 31.7 from the field, was 5-of-30 from long range and was 12-of-21 in free throws.
Rebounds were nearly even with the Geoducks' 47 just one better than Chaminade, although the 'Swords dished out 19 assists, tying for the fifth most in program history.
All 14 active 'Swords saw at least two minutes of court time on Friday.
The Silverswords will return to action Thursday against Multnomah University at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
