KNIGHT WATCH
At 77.4 points per game, ART U sits at second in the PacWest and 20th in the entire NCAA in scoring offense. Fueling their transition game has been a 4.33 turnover margin which ranks second in the conference and 37th in the country. Finally, a 0.90 assist-to-turnover ratio also ranks second as the Urban Knights' 14.0 assists per game average was maintained during the previous week of competition.

Junior forward Krystal Forthan has contributed clutch shots down the stretch in Academy of Art's past three games going back to her game-winner against Northwest Nazarene, then a layup to give the Knights a four-point cushion versus California Baptist, and finally her jumper in the lane with 34 seconds left to put her squad up permanently on Azusa Pacific. She comes into the week averaging 17.0 points per game (3rd in PacWest) along with 9.2 rebounds (7th in PacWest) and 1.4 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game. She has five double-doubles on the year to remain among the NCAA's top 50 and now needs just 11 blocks to become the program's career leader.

Following two productive offensive games against strong PacWest competition, junior guard Zoie Sheng is up to 14.1 points per game and firmly holds a second-place ranking in free throw percentage in the PacWest (88.4%). That figure puts her 33rd in the country among free throw shooters and she is starting to close in on Alisa Griggs' four-year record of free throws made (291) with a total of 246 to date. Now just four assists from tying Sondra Stilwell's record (233) as well, Sheng has a 1.3 assist-to-turnover ratio which ranks seventh in the PacWest. Fellow junior guard Sha'Nice Storey (11.7 ppg) is third in the conference in 3-point percentage (42.0%), having made 21 long range shots this year to give her 117 through 74 career games.

A rebounding force at the guard position, junior Jasmin Guinn is averaging 8.1 rebounds and 9.6 points per game and finds herself just nine rebounds from passing Jessica Nolan (464) into second place on the ART U career list. Top 10 in the PacWest in both assists (3.6 apg) and steals (1.7 spg), junior guard Regina Camera adds 9.9 points per game as well.

A ROCKY STORM
Despite a 4-6 overall record, Dixie State has won three of its four PacWest games thus far to put them just one loss behind ART U in the conference standings. The Red Storm opened the year with losses to Alaska and Chico State before overcoming Cal State San Marcos 67-62. DSU then went on to fall to Central Washington, bounced back to defeat Point Loma, then dropped its first PacWest game to California Baptist. In their see-saw season thus far, Dixie State then bested Fresno Pacific before heading to the Las Vegas Challenge where they dropped contests to Seattle Pacific and Western Oregon. Most recently on Dec. 20, DSU handily defeated Holy Names and will play its final home game against ART U before a three-part Hawaii roadtrip. The Red Storm are led offensively by Kayla Miller (13.9 ppg, 2.7 3-pointers made per game) and have the help of Taylor Mann and Taylor Maynes who combine to average 18.9 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Historically, the Knights are 4-6 against the Red Storm, but were 3-0 last year including an 82-72 win in the PacWest Championship Tournament Semifinals.

DOMINICAN DOMINATING DEFENSIVELY
At 5-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play, Dominican has surely had its ups and downs this year. After starting the season with losses to Chico State and Cal State East Bay, the Penguins picked up their first win over UC Merced and backed that up with a victory over Sonoma State then dropped a decision to Humboldt State. Dominican started PacWest play strong by defeating Notre Dame de Namur and Holy Names along with a non-conference win over Northwest Nazarene, but lost most recently to Azusa Pacific and California Baptist. A major reason why the Penguins lead the PacWest in blocked shots per game (7.2) and field goal percentage defense (holding opponents to just 35.9%) is Sarah Nelson who averages 5.2 blocks per game along with 12.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Complementing Nelson's defensive domination is Allyssa Weatherd who puts up 17.2 points per game with the conference's top field goal percentage (60.8%). It is an 11-0 record for ART U over the Penguins all-time.

ART U OFFS COUGARS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
Overcoming an 11-point second half deficit, ART U Women's Basketball did something it has never done previously – defeat Azusa Pacific on Dec. 20. A steady 20-9 run was later followed by a 14-5 push to finish the game as ART U took the lead in the final two minutes and topped the Cougars 74-70 with solid execution once again. Forthan led the charge with 27 points and 17 rebounds, scoring the game-winner as well as the team's final 10 points.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Urban Knights head out on the road for PacWest rematches against California Baptist (Jan. 10), Azusa Pacific (Jan. 12), and their first pairing with Point Loma (Jan. 14).