Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Hailey Archambault & Rob Garcia)

Seaside, CA -- Up against last year's CCAA Champions, Cal State Monterey Bay, Academy of Art University women's basketball found itself on the wrong end of a 79-63 final Wednesday evening inside the Kelp Bed. Despite a 27-11 points off turnovers margin and multiple leads, the Urban Knights endured a tough shooting night en route to just their second loss of the season. Senior Jordan Rogers posted a team-high 14 points while senior Ariel Dale added 11 points off the bench.

"Monterey Bay was coming off a loss and a bad shooting night so I knew they would come out ready to go," head coach LaNay Larson said. "We made way too many defensive mistakes to beat a  team that has won their conference the last two years. They have a lot of experience and upperclassmen that play really well together. We will get there, we just have such a new team this year and still have lots to learn."

Although CSUMB got out to an early 8-2 advantage, the Urban Knights responded with a 9-2 burst of their own powered by a three-point play from freshman Zoie Sheng. Dale provided the jumper to give ART U its first lead at 11-10, but one of just two 3-pointers by the Otters put them back ahead.

A five-point swing via offense from freshmen Jasmin Guinn and Regina Camera brought Academy of Art back in the driver's seat, 18-17, however, Monterey Bay answered with a 12-1 run to take a 10-point advantage. From there, junior Alisa Griggs helped shift the momentum with a three-point play via a strong move inside.

The Otters' seven-point lead briefly rose to 13, but freshman Sha'Nice Storey nailed a shot from distance, Rogers hit a free throw, and senior Katy Wade provided a jumper late. In ART U's final possession, Rogers received a pass from freshman Jasmin Guinn, took some contact, and put in a layup at the buzzer to make it 41-32 at halftime.

In the second half, the teams traded baskets before Dale scored six straight points to cut the CSUMB margin to single digits, 52-43, midway through. Minutes later, Camera would find Wade for a layup to make it a seven-point difference with still 12:52 left to play.

Cal State Monterey Bay, however, fought back with a 13-2 burst to get ahead by 18 down the stretch. Griggs worked to cut into that lead, but the Otters finished off the half shooting 63 percent from the floor and held on for the 79-63 win.

The Urban Knights were led by Rogers' 14 points and six rebounds. Dale provided 11 points off the bench while Wade was one point shy of a double-double with her nine points and 11 rebounds. Griggs added eight points and Storey complemented her five points with four steals. ART U's overall record now moves to 6-2.

"We will fix the mistakes and are going to have better shooting nights ahead," Coach Larson said. "We are forcing turnovers with our pressure, we just need to start converting more and will have better shooting nights ahead."

CSUMB, who improves to 4-1 overall with the victory, was paced by Gabby Munsch's game-high 21 points (10-for-14 from the field). She was supported by a trio with 10 points each. Jessica Fontenette (seven assists), Holly Holcomb (six rebounds), and Brittany Jefferson (10 rebounds) each hit double figures.

The Urban Knights return to Kezar Pavilion to face new conference member Holy Names on Saturday, Dec. 8. Sign up for the FAN BUS and be sure to stay for the presentation of the PacWest Community Engagement Award to Academy of Art that afternoon.