SAN FRANCISCO – Starting a new chapter with nine new faces at the start of the year, Academy of Art University women's basketball grew together through a 2016-17 campaign that featured an eight-game win streak, several breakout performances, and ultimately head coach LaNay Larson's sixth consecutive winning season.

For the first time ever, ART U began its season in Alaska with non-conference matchups against Alaska and No. 10 Alaska Anchorage. Both home teams would prevail and, after a late rally by Stanislaus State plus a loss at the hands of Simon Fraser, Academy of Art entered Cal State East Bay's Thanksgiving Shootout still in search of its first win.

Versus Humboldt State to start the tournament on Nov. 26, the Urban Knights broke through with their best collective performance to that point and earned a 73-62 victory over the Lumberjacks. ART U would face tourney host CSUEB the next evening and, with a 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter, picked up their second straight win 57-54.

With momentum building as they headed into Pacific West Conference play, Academy of Art scored 27 points off turnovers in a triumph over Fresno Pacific on Dec. 1 (a game that led junior forward Helena Orts to be named PacWest Defender of the Week) then upended BYU-Hawaii 80-67 behind a season-high 34 points from junior guard Rodericka Ware in the Knights' second home game of the year. ART U then used stifling defense to rise to 3-0 in conference action with a 74-64 victory at Holy Names on Dec. 11.

The calendar year finished with Academy of Art winning its sixth consecutive game, a 72-70 rebounding exhibition hosting Cal State Monterey Bay on Dec. 12, before another two-point victory over Sonoma State to start the new year on Jan. 3. As became the trend during the year, ART U's one-two punch of Orts and Ware combined for 34 points against CSUMB and 41 points versus SSU.

After registering 26 steals (one shy of the program record) in a 75-50 domination of Dixie State on Jan. 5, the Urban Knights pushed their win streak to eight games before PacWest rival Dominican ended the run with a 79-69 victory on Jan. 7. A big second half helped Academy of Art return to its winning ways, defeating Chaminade 71-58 on Jan. 10.

Beginning a two-part Southern California roadtrip that would feature eventual PacWest champion and NCAA Tournament semifinalist California Baptist, ART U shot nearly 50 percent from the field in a 76-68 win over Azusa Pacific on Jan. 14. Ware and Orts combined for 56 points in the victory. Two days later on Jan. 16, the Lancers, who were ranked No. 11 in the country at the time, jumped out to an early lead and never looked back en route to an 82-68 win hosting the Knights.

Academy of Art returned home for a rematch with Dominican on Jan. 19, but a late push by the Penguins led the visitors to a 79-69 victory. The Knights would bounce back, however, utilizing a career performance by senior guard Alana Simon to defeat Notre Dame de Namur 84-79 on Jan. 22 then topping Fresno Pacific 74-72 on a breakout offensive effort from Orts.

Back in down south to face Point Loma in San Diego, the Knights could not find their rhythm against the Sea Lions and, to start February at home once more, an early deficit to Holy Names proved to be too much for a fourth quarter comeback. In one of its most thrilling contests of the year, Academy of Art battled NDNU into double overtime after freshman guard Karleigh Joseph saved the game with a block at the end of the first extra period. She would be named PacWest Defender of the Week for her efforts throughout the contest. The Feb. 6 rematch would go to the Argonauts in the end unfortunately, but ART U would still gain momentum for wins in four of its next five games.

The Knights' annual Hawaii roadtrip ensued and it opened with a 75-64 win on Jan. 11 to complete the season sweep of Chaminade. An evenly played matchup went the way of Hawaii Pacific on Jan. 13, but another season sweep followed with Academy of Art's 33 points off turnovers leading them to an 87-60 triumph over BYU-Hawaii on Jan. 15.

Back in San Francisco for its final homestand, the Knights were led by the three-part attack of Simon, Orts, and Ware in an 81-78 win with Concordia in town on Feb. 20. Three nights later, ART U used a 51-36 rebounding advantage to secure its 16th win of the year, a 71-62 final versus UH Hilo. Finally, in a Feb. 25 game with PacWest Tournament implications, Academy of Art could not overcome Azusa Pacific and would miss qualifying for the postseason. Nonetheless, the Knights' senior class of guards Desiree Harris and Simon along with forwards Priscilla Mora and D'Andree Galipeau were honored for Senior Day following the matchup.

At the season's conclusion, Ware was named to the All-PacWest First Team and Orts earned All-PacWest Third Team. Ware finished as the conference's third-leading scorer (17.8 points per game), ranked second in three-point field goals made per game (2.7), and led in steals per game (2.7). Orts proved to be one of the toughest forwards to handle in the PacWest, ranking third in field goal percentage (.529) and fourth in rebounds per game (9.0) after posting 13 double-doubles.

With the majority of its roster now a year wiser at the Division II level, Academy of Art looks to build off its foundation this fall.