HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team opened a two-game series against visiting Arizona Christian University on Friday with a 72-63 defeat at McCabe Gymnasium.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) had a game-high 15 points and fell one rebound shy of a double-double while
Dezaray Carter (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts Academy) added 10 points for the Silverswords, who fell to 1-4 on the season.
Maddy Weaver (Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup) hauled in a season-high 11 rebounds with
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) putting up another solid all-around numbers with eight points, six rebounds and six assists.
Alyssa Schuetze (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) chipped in with nine points.
Lauren Gunn paced the Firestorm (6-1) with 13 points in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The 'Swords, who led by as many as 10 late in the first quarter, turned in a productive first half and was ahead on the scoreboard for the game's first 22 minutes. However, ACU rallied, taking its first lead with 7:50 left in the third quarter, part of a 22-3 run as the Firestorm out-scored the Silverswords, 25-9, in the period.
Chaminade whittled its deficit to 68-61 after a pair of free throws from
Ashley Holen (Watford City, N.D./Minot State University/Watford City HS) with 2:37 left but Arizona Christian hit a 3-pointer on its next possession to take the wind of the 'Swords' sails.
Chaminade shot 35.5 percent from the floor, sank five 3-pointers, was 14-of-26 from the free throw line with 44 rebounds, 12 assists and seven steals.
ACU shot 39.3 percent including 50 percent (14-of-28) in the second half, made seven triples and made 21-of-27 from the charity stripe. The visitors grabbed 38 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, committed 16 turnovers and had seven steals.
The two teams will wrap up their series on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at McCabe Gym.
