HONOLULU – After a pair of exhibition games the past two weeks, the Chaminade University women's basketball on Friday made their regular season debut in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank, coming away on the short end of a 67-44 decision to Saint Martin's University.
Julien Parado (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) hit 5-of-6 shots including a pair of 3-pointers for a team-high 12 points with
Kylie Squier (Branchville, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional) and
Maddy Weaver (Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup) adding seven points each for the Silverswords (0-1). Weaver also had six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Kiana Rios had a game-high 19 points for the Saints (2-3), who were less than 24 hours removed from nearly stunning Division I University of Hawai'i in an overtime loss.
After a rather slow start in the first quarter facing a 25-6 deficit, the 'Swords recovered nicely over the next 10 minutes as Weaver accounted for six points to help them outscore the Saints, 16-8, in the second period.
However, SMU posted 22 of the combined 32 points in the third quarter to pull away.
Chaminade shot 44.7 percent from the floor while holding Saint Martin's to 37.1 and also outrebounded them, 35-to-32. However, the Saints committed just seven turnovers and was 7-of-20 from long distance.
The PacWest/GNAC Challenge continues on Saturday as the scene shifts to McCabe Gymnasium. The Silverswords will face the University of Alaska Anchorage at 5 p.m. while Saint Martin's and HPU precedes it with a 2 p.m. tipoff.
