HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team on Sunday got 18 points from
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) and 11 from
Julien Parado (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) in their 70-56 win over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Sunday at McCabe Gymnasium.
The win avenged Friday's season-opening loss to the Eagles and evened the Silverwords' record at 1-1.
Madison Gage (Broomfield, Colo./Legacy) added nine points while
Amaya Washington (Peoria, Ariz./Dream City Christian) and
Maddy Weaver (Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup) each chipped in with eight points, the latter also pulling in a team-high seven rebounds.
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) was a defensive thorn in the opposition's side with six steals.
No Eagle reached the double-digit scoring column with Meghan Strickler leading the way with nine points. ERAU fell to 2-2 on the season.
Like they did in Friday's first encounter, the 'Swords had a big first quarter, leading by as many as 15-5. ERAU chipped away at the deficit and got to within four. Baskets from Elmasri,
Alyssa Schuetze (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) and Weaver built their lead back to double-digits at 34-23, on their way to a nine-point halftime lead.
Unlike the first meeting when Chaminade let slip a 14-point away, the 'Swords weathered a rally by the Eagles as they pulled to within 39-35 with 7:51 left in the third quarter. But a 13-4 run, lead by Parado's five points during the five-minute stretch, built the lead to 52-38.
Embry-Riddle never got to within eight the rest of the way as the 'Swords got several key buckets including triples from Elmasri and Washington to keep them ahead in the fourth quarter.
Chaminade shot at a 44.1 percent clip and pulled down 36 rebounds and forcing 26 turnovers, which they recycled into 27 points.
ERAU was held to a 40.8 shooting clip on the afternoon.
The Silverswords are next in action on Wednesday, Nov. 20 when they host the University of Alaska at McCabe Gym in the opener of a two-game series against the Nanooks. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
