Honolulu, HI (1/24/09) -- After scoring 54 points in the first half, Academy of Art University coasted to a 99-80 victory over the Chaminade University Silverswords in McCabe Gym to begin their Hawaii road trip. Junior guard Caprice Hall finished with a career-high 28 points (including 6-of-8 from three-point range) and freshman guard Vanessa Wilkins had an incredible performance with 14 points and 14 rebounds (seven on the offensive glass) off the bench. Six out of seven Urban Knights finished in double figures as AAU never trailed and reached its highest point total of the season in the win.

Along with Wilkins, two other players also had double-doubles in what was an all-around team effort by Academy of Art University. Senior forward Levalasi Key put up 13 points and pulled 10 rebounds while junior point guard Sondra Stilwell scored 13 points and dished out 12 assists. The other two AAU starters, freshman point guard Lorraine Etchell and senior guard Ali Tyson-Taufoou, chipped in 15 and 13 points respectively.

The Urban Knights shot a blistering 59.5% from the floor in the opening period and began the game on a 17-4 run in which Hall knocked down two treys and junior guard Arika Navy drained a three-ball of her own. AAU would not let up and went on to sink eight 3-pointers in the half (five at the hands of Hall). Chaminade University cut the lead to eight with 14:40 on the clock, but Academy of Art University's defense kicked into a higher gear shortly thereafter as Stilwell and Etchell blocked shots on consecutive Silverswords possessions. AAU's advantage hovered around 20 points for the rest of the half to make the score 54-33 heading into the locker room for the intermission.

Chaminade was able to whittle the lead to 11 points midway through the second period, but after Coach Lindsey Yamasaki called a timeout to settle down her team, Wilkins scored four points and grabbed two offensive rebounds in the next minute to bring the Urban Knights back comfortably ahead. From that point on, the lead grew to as many as 25 and AAU cruised to the finish.

On the Silverswords' side of the ball, guard Jasmine Dulan had a team-high 26 points, but also led her squad with nine turnovers. Guard Samantha Saito added 16 points and eight assists. Chaminade University simply could not match the 53.6% shooting from the floor by the Knights and the home team was also out-rebounded 46-31.

With the victory, the Urban Knights improve to 5-15 overall and now hold a three-game win streak while the Silverswords remain winless on the season at 0-15.

Next up for the Urban Knights are the Seasiders of BYU-Hawaii (6-7) whom Academy of Art University will play on Monday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 PM at the George Q. Cannon Activities Center in Laie, HI.