SAN FRANCISCO – When they weren't converting at the foul line, the Urban Knights were benefiting from transition baskets as Academy of Art University women's basketball built multiple 11-point leads hosting Dominican at Kezar Pavilion on Thursday evening. Though the Penguins fought back late, ART U ended up scoring 54 points in the paint with three players registering 23+ points to seal the 88-79 Pacific West Conference victory.
After trading baskets with Dominican in the early going, the Knights made their initial move with five consecutive made free throws (four by senior guard
Zoie Sheng) then extended the run with four layups (three of the fastbreak variety). When the dust settled, the Academy of Art run had scored 13 unanswered points to come from behind and take a 26-15 lead. Sheng finished off the hot start with a pair of free throws to give her 10 points in the first quarter.
The Penguins used a 9-2 push to begin the second quarter and cut the lead to three points, but the ART U response was a 7-0 run, returning the margin to double digits after two layups by senior guard
Jasmin Guinn. Despite junior forward
Priscilla Mora's energizing second effort to score late in the first half, Dominican closed the period by outscoring the Knights 8-4 to make it a 45-38 game at the break.
Guinn and senior guard
Regina Camera worked in tandem to once again push the Academy of Art lead to 11 points three minutes into the second half. In fact, the trio of Guinn, Camera, and Sheng accounted for all 24 ART U points in the third quarter as the Knights headed to the fourth up 69-57 amid a scoring surge.
Four consecutive layups composed an 8-0 run highlighted by Camera finding Guinn twice while also scoring once herself. Up 18, Academy of Art saw its lead shrink to nine points with five minutes left after Dominican used a 12-2 run to get back in. Mora contributed two important layups and Camera nailed a 3-pointer down the stretch as the Knights shut down the possibility of a Penguin comeback, going on to win 88-79.
Academy of Art improves to 8-5 overall and 3-0 in PacWest play with the victory. Camera finished with a game-high 24 points (11-for-20 from the field) and three assists while both Guinn and Sheng each had 23 points apiece. Guinn collected her fourth double-double of the year with 10 rebounds as well and Mora came off the bench to grab a season-high 11 rebounds with nine points in 21 minutes.
The loss drops Dominican to 5-4 overall and evens their PacWest record at 1-1. Allyssa Weatherd scored a team-high 20 points despite struggling from the foul line (5-for-13). Sandra Ikeora contributed a double-double in the form of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Knights will play their home rematch with Fresno Pacific this Saturday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. before the holiday break.
