Game #19
ART U Urban Knights (13-5, 6-2 PWC) vs. Point Loma Sea Lions (7-9, 3-5 PWC)
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 5:30 PM
San Diego, CA – Golden Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video
Game #20
ART U Urban Knights (13-5, 6-2 PWC) vs. California Baptist Lancers (11-5, 5-3 PWC)
Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 5:00 PM
Riverside, CA – Van Dyne Gym
Live Stats | Live Video
Game #21
ART U Urban Knights (13-5, 6-2 PWC) vs. Azusa Pacific Cougars (7-8, 4-3 PWC)
Monday, February 4, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Azusa, CA – Felix Event Center
Live Stats | Live Video
SOCAL SWING UP NEXT FOR KNIGHTS
Academy of Art University Women's Basketball takes the momentum from its resounding 78-45 victory over Chaminade this past Saturday into a challenging Pacific West Conference roadtrip through Southern California. Facing two teams they've never met before, Point Loma (Jan. 31) and Azusa Pacific (Feb. 4), as well as one new to the PacWest last year, California Baptist (Feb. 2), the Urban Knights will have their hands full of teams all with above-average home records.
OPENING TIP
ART U makes its first stop at Point Loma's Golden Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 PM. Two days later on Saturday, Feb. 2, the Urban Knights will be in action against California Baptist with a 5:00 PM tipoff inside Van Dyne Gym. Finally, Academy of Art gets its first look at Azusa Pacific and the Felix Event Center, the arena that will host the PacWest Championships in March, on Monday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 PM to conclude the trip.
Live Stats and
Live Video will be available for all games (see above). Remember to follow
@ARTU_Knights on Twitter and "Like" the
Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: DOMINANT DEFENSE
At a difference of 10.44 turnovers per game, Academy of Art University sits atop all of NCAA Division II in turnover margin. Thus far, the Knights have forced 487 turnovers while only committing 299 themselves. ART U also assumed the #1 spot in the country in steals per game average (15.8 spg) and is now 8th in scoring average (78.1 ppg). Adding to their top marks, Academy of Art is averaging 17.6 assists per game (11th in NCAA DII), 4.9 blocks per game (23rd in NCAA DII), a 1.06 assist-to-turnover ratio (20th in NCAA DII), and a scoring margin of 11.4 ppg (35th in NCAA DII).
KNIGHT WATCH
Coming off the bench to have a crucial impact, junior
Alisa Griggs was awarded her second
PacWest Weekly Fantastic 15 honor the season for her efforts during a 1-1 past week for ART U. Griggs averaged 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds off the bench in the two games and, not only that, she posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double in just 15 minutes of action versus Hawaii Pacific. Senior
Katy Wade, one of the nation's finest shot blockers (ranks 12th in NCAA DII) has continued to build on the program's new single-season blocks record (45) and continues to average 2.5 blocks as well as 9.6 rebounds per game. Offensively, the conference's eighth highest scorer
Jordan Rogers averages 14.0 points per game, doing quite a bit of damage at the foul line where she is 69-of-85 (81.2% and 4th in the PacWest). The trio of senior
Ariel Dale (12.6 ppg), freshman
Sha'Nice Storey (12.2 ppg), and freshman
Regina Camera (10.2 ppg) round out the Urban Knights averaging double figures in scoring.
SEA LION-HEARTED DEFENSE
Despite having the second lowest scoring output in the PacWest, Point Loma has used strong defense to manage a 7-9 overall record thus far. After starting conference play with a 61-42 win over former GSAC opponent Azusa Pacific, the Sea Lions would fall in six of its next seven contests before righting the ship thanks to a 55-41 non-conference victory over Cal State San Marcos. That win sparked a stretch where PLNU triumphed in three of four including an 85-64 dismantling of Holy Names most recently. Point Loma is led by Callie Rhoads' 13.2 points per game and the PacWest blocked shots leader Andrea Campbell who averages 3.2 rejections per game. Six different Sea Lions have led the team offensively in games this season. As PLNU is new to the conference this season, the squad has never faced Academy of Art historically.
A LANCER SHOWDOWN
One team ART U does have an intense history with is California Baptist, even if only from last year. When the Knights and Lancers met in the 2011-12 season, CBU came away with two wins that could have easily belonged to Academy of Art. With spirited runs in both second halves, the Knights were close, but the Lancers seemed to find an answer on each occasion.
Jordan Rogers averaged 20.0 ppg in the two games. This year, California Baptist is once again battling with ART U for the best conference record after six of its first seven games. At 5-3, the Lancers have not had quite as much success in PacWest play. They fell twice to Dixie State and once to #14 Grand Canyon, but do have a 67-65 overtime result against Azusa Pacific in their win column. At 13.5 points per game, Simone Holmes leads CBU offensively with Myriah Hicks backing her up at 11.4 ppg. With six players offering more than 20+ steals apiece led by Lesley Vodicska (47), California Baptist ranks second in the PacWest in both steals per game (12.5) and turnover margin (6.5). CBU is scheduled to face Notre Dame de Namur (Jan. 31) prior to meeting ART U.
COUGAR CRESCENDO
It was a rough beginning to the season for Azusa Pacific after starting with four consecutive losses before finally prevailing over Cal State San Bernardino 69-55. However, as the Cougars hit PacWest play in the New Year, they immediately heated up. A 59-42 win over Fresno Pacific got them started and they proceeded to defeat Point Loma (57-31), Dixie State (66-59), and Dixie State (73-62) once more most recently. California Baptist and Grand Canyon dealt APU losses as well, but Azusa Pacific has yet to lose at home (3-0). Hannah Kenny is the team's offensive leader at 13.7 points per game in addition to 8.0 rebounds per game. When it hasn't been Kenny, however, Kelly Hardeman (12.5 ppg) has been knocking down shots from beyond the arc where she averages 2.6 three-point field goals made per contest. Azusa Pacific is scheduled to face Holy Names (Jan. 30) and Notre Dame de Namur (Feb. 2) prior to its matchup with the Knights. ART U has never faced APU in the Knights' five-year history.
KNIGHTS BOUNCE BACK IN WIN OVER CHAMINADE
After its defense enabled a 15-2 run in the first half, Academy of Art University Women's Basketball pushed the issue further in the second en route to a 78-45 thumping of Chaminade. With the world watching the first home webcast in program history put on by ART U's own Multimedia Communications Department, freshman
Regina Camera posted a team-high 14 points to lead five total Urban Knights scoring in double figures this past Saturday afternoon inside Kezar Pavilion.
LOOKING AHEAD
When ART U returns home from its three-game roadtrip, the team will open up a five-game homestand (its last of the year) with a Feb. 9 matchup against Dixie State.
