BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Length and defensive prowess helped Academy of Art women's basketball achieve season-highs in both steals (22) and turnovers forced (27) on Friday, but Saint Martin's used a second quarter run to get ahead and stay there for the 82-61 victory to start the 20th Annual Lynda Goodrich Classic inside Western Washington's Carver Gym.

No points were scored in the first three minutes, but a 10-2 run by the Saints helped put them up 18-11 after one quarter of play. That run was extended to 17-2 to start the second quarter, but a 3-pointer by senior guard/forward Hayley Pryor had the margin down to single digits, 25-16, midway through. A 9-2 push by SMU to close the first half would put them up 42-22 at the break.

ART U outscored Saint Martin's 10-5 to start the third quarter as both freshman forward Camilla Simola and redshirt senior forward Pre'Franz Dominick knocked down triples. After Pryor converted a three-point play late in the frame, Dominick added a layup and the Knights were within eight, 53-45. By the quarter's end the difference was still single digits following Pryor's layup to beat the buzzer.

In the opening minutes of the fourth, however, the Saints surged back with nine unanswered points and the margin was beyond 20 thereafter. Over a three and a half minute span late in the quarter, ART U registered five steals (two by redshirt senior guard Jazzlynn Brewster), but SMU continued to score when given chances and went on to win 82-61.

"I was very disappointed in the way we came out in the first half," said head coach LaNay Larson. "We have to start the game with a better sense of urgency and purpose. With that being said, I thought we showed what kind of team we can be coming out second half. 22 steals shows the effort we put forward on the defensive end and, moving forward, I'm looking for more consistency and growth in that direction."

Academy of Art, 0-5 following Friday's result, was paced offensively and defensively by Brewster's 16 points plus a career-high seven steals (tied for second-most in program history), six assists, and four rebounds. Dominick added 13 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while senior forward Helena Orts offered eight points, five steals, and four rebounds. The team's 22 steals matched the fifth-most in program history which ART U achieved against UH Hilo on Jan. 19, 2013.

Saint Martin's improves to 4-2 on the season, led by a game-high 27 points and nine rebounds from Elin Johansson.

The Urban Knights turn around and play Western Washington, the host of the 20th Annual Lynda Goodrich Classic tomorrow, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m.