SAN FRANCISCO – Saturday featured a clash of two teams undefeated in Pacific West Conference play and, when the dust finally settled, it was Academy of Art University who stood tall after topping Hawaii Pacific 81-68. Up one at halftime after trailing by as many as 10 points in the first quarter, ART U built upon its comeback with a 14-3 run to bridge the third and fourth quarters. The Urban Knights offered a balanced offensive attack with senior guards Zoie Sheng (18), Jasmin Guinn (17), and Regina Camera (14) all scoring in double figures.

From a one-point game early, the Sharks struck for a 10-3 run before Sheng interrupted with a layup. The visitors led by eight, 25-17, at the conclusion of the first quarter and would soon push that to a 10-point margin in the second. A steady 7-0 push came by way of Guinn layups and free throws by junior forward D'Andree Galipeau.

The teams combined to go 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final minute and the halftime score had the Knights and Sharks separated by just a single point. ART U came right out of the halftime locker room with a layup by Sheng and later key baskets by junior guard Jasmine Rubin kept the Knights in control.

Camera scored six straight points as Academy of Art began to execute its decisive 14-3 surge that included eight unanswered points off three HPU turnovers. Up by 14 early in the final quarter following another high-percentage conversion by Camera, ART U saw its advantage only briefly dip into single digits the rest of the way. The Knights made 11 of their last 12 free throws to seal the victory and make it just two teams now undefeated in the PacWest: Academy of Art and Azusa Pacific (who won 87-38 over Chaminade).

ART U improves to 12-5 overall and 7-0 in PacWest play. Sheng finished with a team-high 18 points (8-for-8 from the free throw line), Guinn had 17 points and three steals, and Camera had another productive performance with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Galipeau added a season-high nine points (4-for-4 from the field) in 17 minutes off the bench.

Hawaii Pacific drops to 8-5 while sustaining its first loss in six PacWest games thus far. Breanna Mackenzie scored a game-high 23 points (10-for-26 shooting from the field) and Aminata Cole delivered a double-double in the form of 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Academy of Art now turns its attention to a three-game roadtrip on the Hawaiian islands which features matchups with UH Hilo (Jan. 14), HPU once again (Jan. 16), and BYU-Hawaii (Jan. 19).