HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team bid a final aloha to Holy Names University on Sunday Bowl Sunday.
With the impending closure of HNU following the spring semester, it was the Hawks who came away with the bragging rights in the final meeting between the two programs.
The Silverswords could not overcome a short-handed Hawks' squad who had just one bench player available as well as a late fourth-quarter 5-on-4 advantage in a 66-63 defeat on Super Bowl Sunday at McCabe Gymnasium.
Olivia Crigler (Hebron, Ky./Pacific Union College/Holy Cross HS) went off for a season-high 29 points, hitting six 3-pointers, one shy of the program record, while
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) added 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the loss.
Selena Buttery (Brockway, Pa./Brockway), who is coming off three straight days of playing for the 'Swords' tennis team, contributed with a season-high eight points while hauling in 15 rebounds, the most by a Chaminade player this season, and tied for the seventh-most in program history. Eight came on the offensive end.
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist) added a season-best 10 boards.
The Silverswords fell to 1-24 on the season and 1-18 in the Pacific West Conference.
Samantha Lemay-Zambrano had 20 points for Holy Names (2-23, 1-16 PacWest), which snapped its 21-game losing streak and a 49-game PacWest slide dating back to January 2020.
Despite losing the final meeting, Chaminade ends the all-time series against the Hawks with an even 9-9 record.
The first quarter was hardly a thing of beauty for the Silverswords ,who trailed 24-11, making just three field goals in the 10-minute span.
However, the second quarter was a complete reversal. HNU was held to just three made shots while Chaminade made 10-of-17 from the floor. Crigler herself was white-hot, hitting all six shots including 4-of-4 from 3-point range for 16 points in the quarter. Martinez's driving layup as time expired sent Chamiande with a 34-31 lead at halftime.
Taeya Blakeney (Honolulu/Kaiser) opened the second half with a jumper while Crigler hit another shot giving Chaminade its largest lead of 41-34 early in the third quarter. HNU then answered with a 9-0 run to retake the lead at 43-41. Crigler tied it at 43 but Jazmine Soto hit a free throw to allow the Hawks to retake the lead, en-route to their 55-47 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter proved to be an adventure. Just 90 seconds in, Soto picked up her fifth personal foul, leaving the Hawks with no more substitutions. Despite that setback, Holy Names would lead by as many as eight points. With 1:57 left, Crigler buried her final triple, reducing Chaminade's deficit to 64-61.
That's when the situation got interesting. With 1:32 left, Alanna Felix fouled out, leaving the Hawks with just four players on the floor. However, Chaminade was unable to capitalize on its 5-of-4 advantage, suffering a turnover and missing all seven shots including the potential tying 3-pointer on the game's final possession.
Chaminade shot 32.3 percent from the field with seven 3-pointers and were 14-of-22 from the free throw line. The 'Swords pulled down 45 rebounds, eight assists and 14 turnovers.
Holy Names shot at a 35.9 percent clip with six triples and was also 14-of-22 from the charity stripe. The Hawks had 44 boards, 12 assists and 15 turnovers.
The Silverswords, who have no seniors on their current squad, will conclude the season Wednesday when they host Fresno Pacific at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
