By: Kevin Hashiro, Chaminade Sports Information Director

Six years after playing her final game, Samantha Saito remains at or near the top of every major statistical category of Chaminade University women's basketball, most notably as the team's all-time leading scorer.

Yet when she decided on making the two-block move as a senior at Sacred Hearts Academy to the hills of Kalaepohaku, basketball was not on the radar.

"I was actually planning on attending Chaminade to play softball," Saito recalled. Meanwhile the Pacific West Conference, which was down to the four Hawai'i Division II schools in 2005-06, added Notre Dame de Namur and Grand Canyon in the Spring 2006 and required several sports to be added for later that fall. Women's basketball was one and it began the process of a new path for her.

"When I found out there would be a women's basketball team, I had to check it out and take advantage of it," Saito said.

It was probably no surprise that in her first year that the 5-foot-4 guard - who earned Honolulu Star Bulletin All-State honorable mention basketball and all-Interscholastic League of Honolulu honorable mention softball honors as a senior at Sacred Hearts - excelled in her freshman year as a Silversword.

The first year of Chaminade women's hoops resulted in six wins, a mark that went unmatched for eight more years. Saito was fourth in scoring (8.9 points per game) and also dished out 106 assists at a 4.2 per game clip as a freshman.

"I'd have to say it was the best, not only because we did well record-wise but also I had a lot of great memories that year," she said. "That year, I got to see snow for the first time (in Anchorage, Alaska) and got to travel to a lot of places I hadn't been to before. I also had amazing teammates. Being one of the two local girls on the team really opened my eyes to a whole new culture. I would definitely relive that year again!" She also said her Alaska trips and the friendships she's made remain some of her favorite college memories.

She also honored her commitment to the 'Swords' softball team, playing in 35 games, collecting nine hits, eight walks while scoring eight runs with two steals.

After her freshman season, she decided to concentrate fully on basketball as the 2007-08 season showed promise. But just weeks into the fall academic term, head coach Cory O'Dell departed for an assistant's job at Division I CSUN. They also lost their leading scorer, converted volleyball player Brittnee Fonnesbeck whose 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds averages are still single-season records, to graduation.

"As a team, we definitely tried to bond and put up our best battles," Saito said. "It was tough but we survived."

However the losses mounted as the 'Swords went winless for two straight seasons but Saito remained upbeat.

"I would make sure I can in each game and each season prepared," she said. "My dad (Anthony, a current Chaminade assistant) was also always there to help after each game. He would give me pointers and tips all the time and definitely shaped me into the player I was.

"That was one positive about playing home. I got to play in front of my mom and dad. They were both very supportive throughout my entire career."

Then on Dec. 15, 2009, the Silverswords finally got back in the win column, a 53-52 win over BYU-Hawai'i at McCabe Gym on Kelly Costello's jumper with just seconds left, ending their 54-game losing streak.

"I was relieved, overjoyed and proud of my teammates," Saito said. "We would come ready to work every morning at 6 a.m. We would practice and prepare for our upcoming opponents and kept fighting; to finally be able to get that win as awesome!"

Saito had another senior memory a little over a month later as she approached a career milestone. Heading into a home game against Hawai'i Hilo, she was just 13 points away from becoming the first Lady 'Sword to reach 1,000 career points.

"I wasn't too focused on how many points I needed," she recalled. "I just wanted to go out and play. There was a lot of 'hype' with me getting closer to 1,000 and it put some pressure on me, I won't lie about that. But overall, I just tried to stick with our game plan and wanted our team to do well."

Saito scored 15 points against the Vulcans to reach the mark, an accomplishment that took a while for her to digest.

"At the time, I was happy but I don't think it really hit me that it was a big deal," she said. "Now when I look back, it's hard to believe that I was able to accomplish something like that. I feel really lucky and blessed to be given that opportunity. I had great teammates and really enjoyed my time at Chaminade."

Saito would conclude her career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,141 points. She was also the program's top rebounder (which has since been broken) and remains the career leader in assists (354) and steals (166). She also never missed a game in her career, playing 3,532 minutes in 101 contests with 98 starts. All three are still program records.

"I am surprised (to still hold nine career records)," she said. "There have been many great athletes who have followed me."

Saito still attends Chaminade games on occasion, cheering on her alma mater as well as her father who is in his seventh year as an assistant coach ("We definitely talk about the game but I don't really give him advice.").

She is also pleased to see the growth of the program under seventh-year head coach Bobby Keanini who is the now the program's all-time winningest coach and who coached her in her youth days.

"I really like how the team is doing," she said. "They have really grown a lot over the years and I'm so happy to see them continue their success. Coach Bob has always been a great coach and I was lucky to have him as one of my coaches when I was growing up. He taught me a lot of what I know and because of that I know he has a lot of knowledge to share with the girls."

And over the past three years, Saito has seen several current Silversword seniors approach her career marks. Recently, forward Lilia Maio joined Saito on the career 1,000-point scoring list and, barring injury, will replace her as the program's all-time leading scorer while guard Kristle Henry is nearing her steals record.

But Saito isn't sad to see her place in history about to be re-written. Instead she is thrilled to see Maio on the verge of forging her own legacy.

"I'm extremely happy for her and wish her the best," Saito said. "I remember watching her in high school when I was coaching and I knew she would be something special."

Saito graduated from CUH in December 2010 with her degree in Elementary Education with a minor in History and Psychology. She also earned her Master's in Elementary Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction from Chaminade two years later.

She currently teaches the fourth grade at Wilson Elementary School in the Kahala area of O'ahu which she loves doing. She also coached basketball but is currently in a hiatus after becoming her grade level chair at Wilson. She also has three "four-legged babies" at home; a dog, Nala, and two cats, Simba and Soap.