SAN FRANCISCO – A back-and-forth matchup for 36 minutes, Tuesday afternoon's non-conference women's basketball game between Academy of Art University and Central Washington saw its momentum turn with a late Wildcat run. Although redshirt senior forward
Pre'Franz Dominick tied her career-high with 30 points in addition to 14 rebounds, a key 14-1 push by CWU enabled the Kezar Pavilion visitors to secure an 81-69 victory.
From a 6-6 tie, an 8-0 Central Washington run gave them early separation as well as a 20-13 advantage at the end of the first quarter. That margin would briefly reach double figures in the second, but Dominick began to find her rhythm thereafter, cutting the lead to six with her third basket of the frame.
Senior forward
Helena Orts converted a free throw to bring the Urban Knights as close as four midway through, but soon a 3-pointer from Jasmin Edwards would get the Wildcats back up 39-31. With under a minute to play in the half, redshirt senior guard
Jazzlynn Brewster converted an offensive putback to make the score 39-33 at the break.
In the early stages of the third, a 5-0 run got ART U to within two at 42-40 and eventually a 7-0 surge capped by an Orts' triple gave Academy of Art its first lead, 49-48, since the opening possession. CWU responded with its own 7-0 push to recapture its advantage. That held only until the final nine seconds of the quarter when Brewster nailed a 3-pointer, putting her team in front 59-58 heading into the fourth.
Less than two minutes into the final quarter, a layup by junior guard
Inga Kot combined with a three-point play from Dominick as the Knights built a 64-61 lead. Unfortunately for Academy of Art, the second portion of the quarter saw a 6-1 run turn into a 14-1 rebuttal from the Wildcats and late free throws helped CWU take home the 81-69 victory.
The loss drops Academy of Art to 1-10 on the year. For the third consecutive game, Dominick led the team in both scoring and rebounding with her fifth double-double of the season. In addition to 14 rebounds, she matched her career-high with 30 points (9-for-22 from the field) and tied the program record for free throws made with 12 conversions in 15 trips to the foul line (second-most attempts in program history). Brewster chipped in 15 points while Orts added 10 points as well.
With the win, Central Washington rises above .500 to 5-4 overall this season. Four Wildcats scored in double figures led by Sadie Mensing's 17 points including an 8-of-8 performance from the free throw line.
Non-conference action continues for ART U this week as Stanislaus State comes to Kezar Pavilion this Friday, Dec. 15 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
