HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team on Tuesday dropped a 65-57 decision to Concordia University Irvine in their penultimate game at McCabe Gymnasium.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) led the Silverswords with 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench while
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) and
Dezaray Carter (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts Academy) added nine points and four boards each.
Chaminade fell to 3-18 on the season and 1-15 in the Pacific West Conference.
The Golden Eagles (11-9, 9-5 PacWest) were paced by Savannah Felix-Amaroso's 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The eight-point margin of defeat was the fewest in the series in the last seven games, dating back to February 2019 when the 'Swords handed the Golden Eagles a loss in Irvine.
CUI led by as many as 14 in the first quarter as the game had signs of becoming a one-sided affair that has usually been the norm in the series. But Chaminade managed to close the gap late in the second quarter when Elmasri's 3-pointer brought them to within 31-28 with 1:22 left in the half.
Although the 'Swords never got closer than three the rest of the game, they managed to hang around throughout the third quarter. CUI's lead swelled to 16 (62-46) midway through the fourth but Chaminade kept battling thanks to buckets from
Julien Parado (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) and Carter along with free throws by
Emma Morris (Tucson, Ariz./Tanque Verde).
Libby Hein (Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) scored all five of her points in the final 1:23 to help reduce the margin to single digits at the end of the game.
Chaminade shot 30 percent from the field, making four 3-pointers and was 17-of-23 from the free throw line. The 'Swords hauled in 37 rebounds while Carter and
Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Whittier College/Sacred Hearts Academy) each had three assists.
CUI shot 40.7 from the floor, took just 16 triples with two makes, was 15-of-23 from the charity stripe, had 43 rebounds, 15 assists and 15 turnovers.
The Silverswords will play their final home game of the season on Monday when they host Biola at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. with Martinez, Morris and
Sasha Phillip (Hau'ula, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Hawai'i Baptist) being honored after the game.
