HONOLULU – Historically, contests between the Chaminade University and Azusa Pacific University women's basketball teams haven't been close. On Saturday, the Silverswords made it as close as they ever got.
The Silverswords took the nationally ranked Cougars to the brink before falling, 59-57, at McCabe Gymnasium. It is the smallest margin of defeat to the Pacific West Conference power since the series began in 2012-13 with the previous being 18 in February 2018.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) led the 'Swords with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five steals while reigning PacWest Player of the Week
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) added 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals as Chaminade fell to 5-10 and 4-5 in the conference.
Alyssa Schuetze (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) chipped in with seven points and five boards and
Kali Jones (Hyrum, Utah/Mountain Crest) pulled down more eight boards for Chaminade, which wrapped up a four-game home stand.
Amaya Kirkman led APU, ranked No. 8 in the WBCA Coaches and No. 17 in the D2CSC Media Poll, with 19 points and 13 rebounds to improve to 14-1 and remain unbeaten in the PacWest at 8-0.
With the 'Swords trailing 25-12 two minutes into the second quarter, it seemed another APU runaway was in order. However, CUH began turning the tide as a layup from
Amaya Washington (Peoria, Ariz./Dream City Christian) sparked a 13-0 run over the next six minutes. Although APU scored the final four points of the half on free throws to take a 29-25 lead, they were held without a basket for the final eight minutes.
Midway through the third quarter, the Cougars grabbed a 12-point lead and again threatened to turn the contest into a rout. But like they did in the previous quarter, the 'Swords slowly ate away at the deficit and trailed by just six at the end of 30 minutes.
Trailing 59-52 with less than a minute remaining, Jones sank a pair of free throws then on the ensuing Azusa Pacific possession, Escobedo poked the ball away from Audrey Sayoc at midcourt and coasted in for a layup, slicing the deficit to 59-56 with 34 seconds left. Elmasri's free throw with six seconds left to trim the deficit to two but Chaminade could not get possession back as the clock ran out.
Chaminade shot 36.4 percent but also held the Cougars to just 27.4 percent from the floor, the Cougars' lowest shooting percentage in the history of the series. The Silverswords made three triples and were 14-of-17 from the foul line. They also managed to out-rebound APU, 46-to-42, another series first.
The Cougars were 5-of-31 from long distance and 14-of-18 at the free throw line. They committed 16 turnovers and their full court pressure also netted them 18 steals.
The Silverswords will open a five-game, two-week road trip Wednesday at Fresno Pacific. Tipoff at the Special Event Center will be at 2 p.m. Hawai'i time.
