IRVINE, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's basketball team on Monday rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to earn a 65-56 win over Concordia University Irvine at CU Arena.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) and
Kali Jones (Hyrum, Utah/Mountain Crest) each had double-doubles while
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) fell a rebound shy of a third to help the Silverswords snap their three-game losing slide and win the first game of their road trip.
Elmasri had 18 points and 10 rebounds while Jones went for 12 and 14, respectively. Escobedo nearly joined the group with a career-high 16 points and nine boards while dishing out three assists and getting three steals.
Amaya Washington (Peoria, Ariz./Dream City Christian) hit three 3-pointers for a season-high 13 points to help Chaminade improve to 6-12, one win shy of the program record, and 5-7 in the Pacific West Conference.
The win snapped the Silverswords' eight-game losing streak to CUI in the series and their first win at CU Arena since February 2019.
The Golden Eagles were led by Erika Maggard's 14 points in falling to 2-15 and 1-9 in the conference.
The third quarter alone had seven lead changes with CUI owning a 41-38 lead after 30 minutes.
With a 52-45 lead with 5:51 left to play, the Golden Eagles threatened to pull away but the 'Swords answered with a 15-2 run over the next four minutes. Washington buried a pair of triples including one which put Chaminade ahead with just under four minutes left, followed by Jones' three-point play which capped the run.
Elmasri hit five of the last six free throws to seal the outcome.
Chaminade shot 36.5 percent from the floor while holding CUI to just 29.6 percent shooting. The 'Swords made four triples and were 15-of-19 at the free throw line while outrebounding them, 55-to-37.
The Golden Eagles hit five triples and made nine of their 10 free throw tries.
The Silverswords continue their road trip Thursday at Biola University in a rematch of the Jan. 9 meeting won by Chaminade. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Hawai'i time.
