Game #4
ART U Urban Knights (1-2, 0-0 PWC) vs. Point Loma Sea Lions (0-5, 0-0 PWC)
Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 5 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #5
ART U Urban Knights (1-2, 0-0 PWC) vs. Concordia Eagles (0-4, 0-0 PWC)
Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 1 p.m.
San Francisco – Kezar Pavilion
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #6
ART U Urban Knights (1-2) vs. Chico State (3-1)
Monday, December 3, 2018 at 6 p.m.
Chico, Calif. – Acker Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video

URBAN KNIGHTS TO MAKE 2018-19 PACWEST DEBUT, CHICO STATE RESCHEDULE FOLLOWS
Three games into its season, Academy of Art women's basketball not only finds itself on its home floor for the first time this week, but also up against its first two Pacific West Conference opponents as Point Loma and Concordia come to town. ART U will then make up its non-conference game at Chico State after it had been postponed due to hazardous air quality from the Camp Fire.

OPENING TIP
Academy of Art opens conference play by hosting Point Loma this Thursday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. following by a 1 p.m. tipoff against Concordia on Saturday, Dec. 1. Both games will be played inside Kezar Pavilion, the home of the Urban Knights. A busy stretch will then conclude with ART U's make-up game against Chico State on Monday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. inside the Wildcats' Acker Gymnasium. Live coverage will be available via the links above. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHT WATCH
In addition to leading the PacWest in defensive rebounds per game (31.7), Academy of Art ranks second in both scoring (77.0 points per game) and overall rebounding (42.3 per game). After another breakout performance in just her second week competing as a collegiate student-athlete, freshman guard Chanel Stuart was named PacWest Defender of the Week. She enters the weekend as the conference's leader in steals per game (4.0) and ranked seventh in all of NCAA Division II in the category in addition to averaging 1.3 blocks (sixth in the PacWest), 8.3 rebounds (eighth in the PacWest), and 15.3 points per game (11th in the PacWest). She has shot 50 percent from the field to sit fifth in the conference thus far. Second in the PacWest in scoring, junior guard Brianna Cates has put up 22.0 points per contest (21st in NCAA DII) including 2.0 from long range per game (ninth in the PacWest). ART U carries two of the conference's top four rebounders to date with junior forward Ines Medina and sophomore forward Megan Jefferson each collecting 9.0 boards per game respectively.

ON POINT
It has been a surprising start to the season for Point Loma who was picked to finish fourth by the PacWest coaches in the preseason poll after the Sea Lions went 19-11 and ended as runner-up to champion Hawaii Pacific in the conference tournament. PLNU comes into its matchup with ART U winless through five games versus Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State San Bernardino, Simon Fraser, Sonoma State, and Cal State San Marcos. The one-two punch of Sydney Peterson (15.8 points per game) and Cara Liggins (14.4 points per game) has led Point Loma offensively while Grace Brady's 2.6 blocks per game lead the PacWest and rank 14th in all of NCAA DII. A storied rivalry dating back to 2013, Academy of Art and Point Loma have faced one another 10 times previously with the Knights leading 6-4 all-time.

FLY LIKE AN EAGLE
Similarly to Point Loma, Concordia was selected to finish fourth by the PacWest coaches in their preseason poll, but has yet to record a victory in four games thus far. Falling by double-digit margins to Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State San Marcos, and by nine to Cal Poly Pomona, the Eagles have not been able to rebound since falling to Academy of Art 72-69 at the end of their 16-11 run last season. Concoria is slated to begin PacWest play at Dominican on Thursday before Academy of Art on Saturday. A Preseason All-PacWest Team selection, Michaela Vanderklugt has been a bright spot for CUI, averaging 16.3 points (seventh in PacWest) and 8.3 rebounds per game (10th in the PacWest) for a team that ranks second in the PacWest in offensive rebounds per contest (14.5). After emerging victorious in the last four meetings, ART U enters this weekend 4-1 all-time versus Concordia.

IN THE WILD
Picked to finish fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association by the coaches in the preseason poll, Chico State is 3-1 thus far in 2018. The Wildcats dropped three exhibition games against NCAA Division I institutions, but topped three PacWest Bay Area teams, Dominican, Notre Dame de Namur, and Holy Names, before their first regular season loss came at UC San Diego on Nov. 24. Monday will be their first official home game of the year. Chico State has spread the wealth when it comes to scoring as five players average over 7.0 points per game led by Madison Wong's 8.8 points per contest. The Wildcats and Urban Knights last met in 2010 when Chico State defeated ART U 73-55 for the team's only historical meeting.

OFFENSE REIGNS AS SF STATE EDGES ACADEMY OF ART 102-92
Academy of Art women's basketball shot 60 percent from field in the second half en route to 92 total points, but SF State still managed to come away with the 102-92 victory inside the Gators' Main Gymnasium on Nov. 25. Although multiple comebacks got the Urban Knights to within a single point with just under four minutes left, SFSU closed the game with one final 11-2 push.

LOOKING AHEAD
After one more PacWest matchup at Notre Dame de Namur on Dec. 8, ART U will briefly depart conference play for a trip north to Central Washington (Dec. 10) and Seattle Pacific (Dec. 12).