HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's basketball team dropped the third game of their final six-game home stand with a 50-42 defeat Thursday to Fresno Pacific at McCabe Gymnasium.
Alyssa Schuetze (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) paced the Silverswords with 16 points and eight rebounds while
Julien Parado (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Campbell) added 10 points and five boards for the Silverswords (0-20, 0-16 Pacific West Conference).
The 'Swords, who trailed by as many as 21 in the early stages of the fourth quarter, chopped the deficit to seven with just under four minutes remaining before running out of gas.
Sienna Evans led the Sunbirds (8-14, 5-12 PacWest) with 14 points.
The 50 points is the fewest allowed while Fresno Pacific shot 30 percent from the floor, both opponent season lows.
Chaminade sputtered out of the gate, making just three field goals in the first half, including none in the second quarter. Down 45-22 early in the final period, the 'Swords finally got the motor going as Schuetze bookended a 17-1 run with layups to help Chaminade close to within 46-39 with 3:44 remaining.
Holly Dolny (Melbourne, Australia/Loyola University Chicago/Heathdale Christian College) and
Kylie Squier (Branchville, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional) also hit buckets as did
Selena Buttery (Brockway, Pa./Brockway) who buried her team-leading 27th 3-pointer of the season during the surge.
However, CUH was unable to capitalize on a series of FPU turnovers and misses down the stretch.
Chaminade shot 27.3 percent from the field with 38 rebounds and nine assists.
The Sunbirds pulled down 48 boards and had 21 giveaways in the final meeting between the two programs as member of the PacWest. Fresno Pacific is joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in July.
The Silverswords will face Jessup University on Saturday. Tipoff at McCabe Gym is at 2 p.m.
