Game #17
ART U Urban Knights (10-6, 6-2 PWC) vs. Dominican Penguins (9-8, 5-5 PWC)
Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
San Francisco, Calif. – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #18
ART U Urban Knights (10-6, 6-2 PWC) vs. Notre Dame de Namur Argos (8-8, 6-3 PWC)
Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 1 p.m.
San Francisco, Calif. – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #19
ART U Urban Knights (10-6, 6-2 PWC) vs. Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (4-13, 1-8 PWC)
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
San Francisco, Calif. – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

THREE-PART HOMESTAND FEATURES NORCAL OPPONENTS
Coming back from a split against Azusa Pacific and No. 11 California Baptist in Southern California, Academy of Art University women's basketball returns home to challenge a trio of PacWest rivals over the course of the next week.

OPENING TIP
The ART U homestand begins this Thursday, Jan. 19 with a 5:30 p.m. matchup hosting Dominican. Then on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 1 p.m., the Knights welcome Notre Dame de Namur to Kezar Pavilion for the first time this year. Finally, Wednesday, Jan. 25 will feature a 5:30 p.m. rematch with Fresno Pacific. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter & Instagram and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
Still among the top 15 in the country in steals per game (12.1), Academy of Art has also moved to the top in the PacWest in that category. Additionally, the Knights rank third in turnover margin (3.31). Also third in the conference in scoring (19.1 points per game), junior guard Rodericka Ware remains second in the PacWest in steals (2.8 spg) and fourth in assists (4.5 apg). She has moved atop the PacWest in both three-point field goal percentage (.358) and 3-pointers made per game (3.1).

Though it dropped slightly, junior forward Helena Orts' field goal percentage (.520) is still second in the PacWest. After a season-high 25 points at Azusa Pacific and her eighth double-double at California Baptist, she is now averaging 13.6 points (16th in PacWest) and 8.8 rebounds per game (sixth in PacWest). Orts (1.9 steals per game) is one of four Knights among the top 11 in the conference in steals per game with senior guard Alana Simon and junior guard Jazzlyn Brewster both averaging 2.1 thefts per contest. Brewster also comes off a season-high 18 points per game at CBU.

ANOTHER DOMINICAN DUEL
Since breaking the Urban Knights' eight-game win streak with a 96-82 on Jan. 7, Dominican has split a pair of games. The Penguins defeated Dixie State on the road 72-63 then fell to Hawaii Pacific 64-51 back in San Rafael. Sandra Ikeora, who scored a program-record 43 points in the ART U and Dominican's previous meeting, is not only the PacWest's leading scorer (21.4 points per game), but also the top rebounder (12.0 rpg). The Penguins' win earlier this month was just their second ever against Academy of Art in 16 previous meetings.

NOTES ON NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame de Namur has been on a bit of a see-saw season thus far with more ups than downs recently. After starting 2-5, the Argonauts have won eight of their last 11 and currently sit just a single loss behind ART U in the PacWest standings. NDNU, who is slated to face Fresno Pacific on Jan. 20, recently defeated Chaminade for the second time, Holy Names, and lost to Hawaii Pacific 91-45. The Argos are second in the conference in assists per game (3.75) led by Marissa Caballero's 3.1 per contest to go with 14.9 points per game, making her NDNU's leading scorer. In what is a well-chronicled matchup over the years, the Knights and Argos have met 15 times previously and ART U carries a 12-3 edge.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Since their 73-56 loss to Academy of Art in Fresno on Dec. 1, the Sunbirds lost five of their next six games with a non-conference win over Antelope Valley their lone victory. Resuming PacWest play at the start of the year, Fresno Pacific picked up its first victory in conference hosting Holy Names on Jan. 5, but has since fallen to Point Loma, Hawaii Pacific, and Chaminade. FPU will face Notre Dame de Namur and California Baptist before meeting the Knights in San Francisco on Jan. 25. Bree Alvarez leads the team offensively at 15.6 points per game, scoring primarily from long range (2.6 3-pointers per game). ART U is 5-0 versus Fresno Pacific after the win earlier this year.

STRONG SECOND HALF PUSHES ART U PAST SWORDS
Matching up with the highest-ranked team the Pacific West Conference has to offer on Jan. 16, Academy of Art University women's basketball outscored No. 11 California Baptist in two of the four quarters, but ended up dropping an 82-68 decision on the road at Van Dyne Gym.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following their homestand, the Knights will head south once more to take on Point Loma in San Diego on Jan. 28.