HONOLULU – With newcomers comprising nearly three-quarters of the roster, the 2023-24 Chaminade University women's basketball team is in rebuild mode.
On the plus side, however, four of the Silverswords' top six scorers a year ago are back.
The 'Swords will open their season Friday against Evergreen State at McCabe Gymnasium at 2 p.m., part of a split doubleheader with the women's volleyball match against Dominican, which follows later that evening.
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy), who has been in the top two of the team's scoring the past two seasons, returns for her final year. The senior ranked just outside the Pacific West Conference's top 20 in scoring while her 3.2 assists average put her in a tie for sixth in the conference. Martinez also made history last season by recording the program's first triple-double, a 23-point, 11-rebound, 13-assist gem against Champion Christian.
Emma Morris (Tucson, Ariz./Tanque Verde) and
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist) are the team's most experienced returnees, both entering their fourth years with the program. Last season, Morris had the Chaminade's second highest 3-point field goal total with 23 while Phillip was a valuable member off the bench.
The other two returnees are sophomores
Selena Buttery (Brockway, Pa./Brockway) and
Dezaray Carter (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts Academy). The former made two starts in the final two games of the 2022-23 season including a 15-rebound effort against Holy Names, while the latter made 10 starts.
There are 10 newcomers to the program, second-year head coach
Michael Edwards' first recruiting class.
Among them, two have previous collegiate experience at four-year programs on the mainland.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) and
Ashley Holen (Watford City, N.D./Minot State University/Watford City HS) played at Birmingham-Southern College and Minot State University, respectively.
Meanwhile, the eight freshman are from different parts of the continental United States. The lone exception is Ewa Beach's own and Campbell High School graduate
Julien Parado (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell), the 2023 O'ahu Interscholastic Association West Division Player of the Year.
From the western half of the US mainland are
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle),
Alyssa Schuetze (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak),
Madison Gage (Broomfield, Colo./Legacy) and
Amaya Washington (Peoria, Ariz./Dream City Christian).
Comprising those from the east coast are
Libby Hein (Kenneaw, Ga./Harrison),
Kylie Squier (Branchville, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional) and
Ellasyn Matlak (Mineola, Fla./South Lake).
Following Thursday's season opener, the 'Swords will face Multnomah University on Thursday, Nov. 16, for a second straight season. Two days later, the team will face Division I member St. Louis University as a part of the North Shore Showcase in Laie. It will be just the program's third contest against a Division I opponent in program history.
Chaminade will also compete in the Hoops in Hawai'i Thanksgiving Classic at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank.
The team's PacWest opener will be on Thursday, Nov. 30, against conference newcomer Westmont College.
Other games of note include the annual in-state rivalry games against the University of Hawai'i Hilo (Jan. 30 at home, Feb. 3) and HPU (Jan. 18 at home, Feb. 29), along with dates against two-time defending and nationally ranked Azusa Pacific (Jan.6, Jan. 25 at home). The PacWest Championships will be in San Diego in early March where the top six qualifying teams in the conference standings will play for the PacWest's automatic berth into the NCAA West Regional.
