OAKLAND, Calif. – Tough defense combined with the fifth-most rebounds in program single-game history (65) Sunday as Academy of Art women's basketball earned a dominant 75-39 victory over Holy Names inside Tobin Gymnasium. Leading the charge, redshirt senior forward Pre'Franz Dominick posted an oversized double-double with 27 points and 17 rebounds.

"Our focus going into the game was to dominate the boards on both ends and I thought we did a good job of that," said head coach LaNay Larson. "It's something I feel like we haven't taken advantage of enough and we hope to keep that same mentality moving forward."

In the early going, it was a pair of offensive rebounds and putbacks by sophomore forward Ines Medina that initiated an 8-0 run that eventually led into an 11-3 run to end the first quarter. From that 19-9 lead, Academy of Art would utilize a 30-18 first half rebounding advantage and built as much as a 13-point margin midway through the second. Staunch ART U defense held the Hawks scoreless for the final two minutes and 43 seconds of the half, enabling the Knights to stay in front 33-21 at the break.

Back-to-back layups by Dominick started not only the second half but also an 8-0 Knights run to inflate their lead to 20 points. Holy Names managed just six points in the third quarter and, following a Medina 3-pointer in the waning seconds, Academy of Art emerged on top 55-27.

"Our defense is improving," said Larson. "We made some adjustments to increase our intensity level and I think the girls did a good job of executing."

The ART U lead only continued to grow with Dominick pouring in 11 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Knights dominating the rebounding aspect. Five unanswered points ended the contest with Academy of Art celebrating its first PacWest victory by a score of 75-39.

The win improves ART U to 1-9 overall and 1-3 in conference. The 65 rebounds tied the Knights' total at Notre Dame de Namur earlier this calendar year on Feb. 6. Dominick went 12-for-19 from the field, finishing with a game-high 27 points, 17 rebounds (eight on the offensive glass), two steals, and one block. Redshirt senior guard Jazzlynn Brewster contributed 16 points with eight rebounds while Medina delivered career-highs of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Senior forward Helena Orts added nine points and nine rebounds.

Holy Names drops to 1-10 overall and 0-3 in PacWest play. The Hawks' leading scorer was Kaleigh Taylor with 13 points.

In an upcoming week of non-conference action, Academy of Art will host the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's Central Washington on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at noon and the California Collegiate Athletic Association's Stanislaus State on Friday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. both inside Kezar Pavilion.

"We have a short turnaround with two quality opponents this next week so we have to continue to improve and progress," said Larson.