OAKLAND, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team on Wednesday finished their final mainland road trip of the season, surviving a late comeback against Lincoln University in a non-conference meeting, 76-74, at Laney College Gym.
The Silverswords owned an eight-point lead with three minutes left then hung on for dear life, withstanding two Lincoln chances to send the game into overtime in the waning seconds.
Chaminade saw its eight-game losing streak end, improving to 4-21 on the season. Lincoln, an four-year institution with no affiliation to the NCAA or NAIA, had its six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 12-12. It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) tied her season high with 18 points while setting a career best with 13 rebounds.
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) added 12 points and six rebounds while
Dezaray Carter (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts Academy) had a season-high 12 points which also matched her career high set in January 2023.
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds with
Emma Morris (Tucson, Ariz./Tanque Verde) dishing out a team-high three assists.
Arielle Hines led Lincoln with 29 points and 13 boards.
Chaminade held a 42-31 halftime lead, thanks to a 26-13 second quarter with half of their eight made field goals coming beyond the 3-point arc.
Just 20 seconds into the second half, Martinez's layup gave the 'Swords their largest lead of 44-31 before an 11-2 Oaklanders' run got them right back into the game.
Martinez's driving layup put Chaminade up by 11 with 4:17 left and had another with 3:09 remaining to give them a 76-67 lead. It proved to be the 'Swords' final score of the game as Lincoln scored the next six. Aided by Chaminade's six missed field goal attempts, two missed free throws and a pair of turnovers, the Oaklanders had two chances to send the game into an extra period but both shots were off target.
Chaminade shot 41.1 percent from the floor, hit six 3-pointers and was 10-of-15 from the free throw line. They hauled in 49 rebounds, dished out 15 assists to 19 turnovers.
Lincoln shot 36.3 percent, made five triples and was 11-of-14 at the charity stripe. The Oaklanders had 44 boards, nine assists and 12 giveaways.
The Silverswords will end the season on Thursday, Feb. 29, at Hawai'i Pacific University. Tipoff at the Shark Tank is at 4:30 p.m.
