HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team opened Pacific West Conference action Thursday with a 66-60 defeat to Westmont College at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank.
Freshman
Amaya Washington (Peoria, Ariz./Dream City Christian) had a breakout performance, hitting four 3-pointers and all six free throws for 18 points, all season highs.
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) added 13 points while
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) chipped in with a season-high 12 points.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) recorded her first double-double with 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Escobedo also had eight rebounds, five assists and three steals while Martinez had five boards.
The Silverswords fell to 2-4 on the season, 0-1 in the PacWest.
Westmont, the newest member to the conference, got 22 points from Sage Kramer and out-scored the 'Swords, 25-13, in the fourth quarter to win their first-ever PacWest game after moving over from the NAIA ranks this past summer. The Warriors are 4-3 and 1-0.
Chaminade led 15-11 after the first 20 minutes thanks to Washington, who buried consecutive triples to end the quarter. They also ended the second quarter on a modest 7-2 run to own a 28-27 edge at halftime.
The 'Swords led the entire third quarter and had as many as a 43-34 lead after
Julien Parado (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) hit a corner 3-pointer with 4:20 left in the frame. Chaminade led 47-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
But Westmont opened the final period on a 12-2 run as the 'Swords went without a field goal for over seven minutes before Martinez's three-point play brought them to within 57-55 with 2:40 left.
Kramer's layup a minute later increased Chaminade's deficit to four and the Warriors sealed the game at the free throw line, making seven of their last eight.
Chaminade shot 32.1 percent from the field, making seven triples and 17-of-22 free throws. Westmont made 33.3 percent from the floor and made 17 free throws, on 23 attempts. The 'Swords were out-rebounded, 46-to-37 and committed 21 turnovers to the Warrior's 15.
Although the game was moved from the team's normal home of McCabe Gymnasium to HPU's Shark Tank because of unplayable conditions due to the humid weather, it was still considered a home game for Chaminade, according to the NCAA, which is seeking its first home PacWest win since January 2020.
The Silverswords will face Fresno Pacific on Saturday with tipoff set for 1 p.m. at McCabe Gym, weather pending.
