HONOLULU – Back on Jan. 18, the Chaminade University women's basketball team defeated Hawai'i Pacific University at McCabe Gymnasium, snapping a 17-year, 40-game losing streak to the Sharks. On Thursday, they were looking to start a streak in their season finale.
For 31-and-a-half minutes at the Shark Tank, it appeared that would come to fruition. However, an early third-quarter cold spell proved costly as HPU rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half for a 70-67 win over the Silverswords in the season finale for both teams.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) wrapped up her first season in a Chaminade uniform by recording her third straight double-double – her sixth in 2023-24 – with a season-high 19 points and 12 rebounds while
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) tied her season high with 13 points along with four rebounds and four assists.
Chaminade ended its season at 4-22 and 1-19 in the Pacific West Conference.
Ashley Holen (Watford City, N.D./Minot State University/Watford City HS) chipped in with 11 points and five boards.
Ella Berge led HPU (7-18, 5-14 PacWest) with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The 'Swords' led by as many as 14 late in the second half and owned a 38-36 lead at halftime, although HPU feasted at the free throw line in the first half with 27 attempts. To put things in perspective, the Sharks had 29 field goal tries in the first 20 minutes and had more points at the charity stripe (20) than from the field (16).
Holen knocked down a 3-pointer on Chaminade's first possession of the second half then hit a layup for a 43-39 CUH lead. But the 'Swords went cold, missing their next five shots as the Sharks went on a 10-0 run over the next two minutes as Berge nearly singlehandedly gave HPU a 49-43 edge with eight points during the run.
The 'Swords would hang around and with three minutes left in the third,
Amaya Washington (Peoria, Ariz./Dream City Christian) hit a 19-foot straightaway jumper to put Chaminade ahead, 52-51. But that proved to be short-lived when HPU ended the quarter with six straight.
The Sharks seemed poised to pull away in the fourth, leading by as many as eight but Chaminade hung around and trailed by 66-65 with a minute left. Then with two seconds left, HPU left the door open by missing a free throw that would have made it a two-possession game. Instead the 'Swords had a chance to send the game into overtime but Escobedo's desperation 3-pointer at the top of the key as time expired was off the mark, allowing HPU to escape.
Chaminade shot 34.4 percent from the floor, made seven 3-pointers and was 18-of-25 from the free throw line. After setting a camp at the free throw line in the first half, HPU made just 11 trips in the second half and finished 27-of-38 there while shooting 32.8 percent from the floor with five triples.
The 'Swords had 39 boards to HPU's 43 while both teams had 12 assists and 13 turnovers.
In their final collegiate games, seniors
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) had six rebounds,
Emma Morris (Tucson, Ariz./Tanque Verde) logged eight points while
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist) had three points.
