PACWEST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
 
IRVINE, Calif. -- Chaminade began its 2018-19 season this week with three games, including a 79-77 win over Minot State on a buzzer-beater by Destiny Castro.
 
Castro had 33 points in the victory, including making a three-pointer as time expired for the two-point victory to highlight the final week before conference play begins.
 
Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur both had in-region wins on Tuesday against CCAA schools. Dominican took out San Francisco State, 68-64, as Natalie Diaz scored 34 points to become the nation’s leading scorer. Notre Dame de Namur then defeated Cal State Monterey Bay, 55-49. The Argonauts now have the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation, holding opponents to an average of 50 points per game.
 
Conference play begins on Thursday at 5 p.m. with Point Loma visiting Academy of Art. The Sea Lions are looking for their first victory of the season after starting the year with five tough matchups.
 
Hawai`i Hilo is the lone undefeated team remaining in the PacWest and the Vulcans open conference play against defending PacWest Champion Hawai`i Pacific in Honolulu at 4:30 p.m. Fresno Pacific is looking to make its first trip to the PacWest Championships after narrowly missing out last year. The Sunbirds begin conference play in Hawai`i, taking on Chaminade on Thursday.
 
Weekly awards for week of November 19-25
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Destiny Castro, Chaminade
G, Jr., 5-6 -- Talofofo, Guam
Castro played in 103 minutes in Chaminade’s season-opening week. The junior had her best game in Chaminade’s win over Minot State, where she hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for a two-point win. Castro finished the game with 33 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. She made 5 of 7 shots from beyond the arc. On the week, Castro tallied 59 points, 21 rebounds, 17 assists, 10 steals. She made 21 field goals and led the league in assists and steals.
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Chanel Stuart, Academy of Art
G, Fr., 5-8 -- Elk Grove, Calif.
Stuart was on the floor for all 40 minutes of Academy of Art’s game at San Francisco State. The freshman tallied a league-leading four blocks and added three steals to remain the leader this season in steals per game. Stuart also had six defensive rebounds. Stuart also helped on the offensive end with a season-high 22 points, making 8 of 12 field-goal attempts.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Abbey Noblett, Hawai`i Pacific
G, Fr., 5-10 -- Morwell, Australia
Noblett averaged 12.5 points for Hawai`i Pacific during their trip to Anchorage, Alaska last week. The freshman opened the week with a season-high 13 points against Simon Fraser. She made four field goals and five free throws to go along with seven rebounds and five assists with no turnovers. In the next game, Noblett scored double digits again with 12 points with four rebounds and four assists against host Alaska Anchorage. The freshman went 5 for 9 from the field in her fifth career start. She now has 48 points and 29 rebounds on the season to go along with 14 assists on 15-for-44 shooting.