HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team on Saturday put up a strong effort against Pacific West Conference newcomer Vanguard University but couldn't get enough shots to drop down the stretch in their 67-59 loss at McCabe Gymnasium.
Less than 48 hours after her buzzer-beating, walk-off win against Westmont,
Morgan Escobedo (Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle) led the Silverswords with a career-high 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting while tying her career best with six assists. The sophomore guard also pulled down six rebounds.
Sameera Elmasri (Shawnee, Kan./Birmingham-Southern Univ./Saint Thomas Aquinas HS) added 14 points in the scoring column while
Alyssa Schuetze (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) chipped in with 12.
Dezaray Carter (Honolulu/Sacred Hearts Academy) hauled in a season-high eight boards for the 'Swords, who fell to 4-9 and 3-4 in the PacWest, suffering their first conference home loss of the season.
Halle Si'i led the Lions (7-5, 5-1 PacWest) with 18 points.
Chaminade more than held its own against Vanguard, a well-established NAIA power before jumping to the NCAA this season, leading for the majority of the first quarter and faced a deficit of no more than five in the second.
After both teams traded baskets on four straight possessions to start the second half, Escorbedo scored five of the 'Swords' points in their 8-0 run to take a 38-30 lead with 5:32 left in the third quarter, their largest of the game. But turnovers on five straight possessions allowed VU to take a one-point edge before layups by Carter and Escobedo put CUH ahead, 42-39. A Lions' triple with less than a minute left in the frame gave Vanguard the lead for good.
With 3:13 left to play, Elmasri hit her final 3-pointer of the game to close Chaminade's deficit to 57-53 but Vanguard responded on an 8-0 run to help put the contest away.
Chaminade shot 43.8 percent from the floor with five 3-pointers but made just six of 13 free throws. They managed to win the rebounding total, 33-to-31, but suffered 24 turnovers to 11 assists.
The Lions were 44 percent from the field, were 6-of-19 from long distance and 17-of-23 at the charity stripe. They suffered 19 giveaways but had seven blocks.
The Silverswords return to action next Thursday when they host Biola at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
