HONOLULU – Battling back from an initial deficit, Academy of Art University women's basketball found itself within five points of Hawaii Pacific in the third quarter, but a run to end that frame ended up pushing the Sharks to their 93-68 win inside the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Wednesday night. Redshirt senior guard
Jazzlynn Brewster delivered a career-high 31 points despite the loss.
After HPU started the game on a 13-0 run, Brewster stopped the streak with a deep, NBA-range 3-pointer and proceeded to score the first eight points for her ART U. Brewster connected for her third triple of the contest at the end of the first quarter, cutting the Sharks' lead down to 32-18 heading to the second.
Points off turnovers continued to keep Hawaii Pacific ahead by double figures for all but a moment in the second quarter when Academy of Art trailed 38-30. HPU pushed its advantage back up to 14 (50-36) at halftime.
The Knights wasted virtually no time making their move, beginning the third quarter with a 12-3 run that featured scores by redshirt senior forward
Pre'Franz Dominick and senior forward
Helena Orts in addition to Brewster. Clutching a 55-49 lead midway through, however, the Sharks keyed what would become a game-shifting 22-3 surge that lasted into the fourth quarter. A 10-3 rebuttal came from Academy of Art, but HPU kept its offense flowing thereafter to secure the 93-68 end result.
With the loss, ART U is now 2-13 overall and 1-6 in conference play. Brewster's 31 points tied her for the fifth-most by an Urban Knight in program history. As part of her 11-for-24 performance shooting from the floor, she matched her career-best with four 3-pointers made and added five rebounds as well as five assists. Dominick added 14 points and eight rebounds while Orts turned in 12 points.
HPU wins its fifth consecutive regular season game, improving to 9-2 overall and 3-1 PacWest play. Janessa Manzano finished with 25 points (5-for-6 from long range) and three other Sharks scored in double figures including Jessi Reeves' 16 points.
The Urban Knights make one more stop on their Hawaii roadtrip as they matchup against UH Hilo this Friday, Jan. 5 at 5 p.m. HT (7 p.m. PT).
