Game #15
ART U Urban Knights (3-11, 2-9 PWC) vs. Concordia Eagles (6-10, 5-6 PWC)
Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
Irvine, Calif. – CU Arena
Live Stats & Live Video

Game #16
ART U Urban Knights (3-11, 2-9 PWC) vs. Point Loma Sea Lions (8-10, 7-5 PWC)
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 2 p.m.
San Diego – Golden Gymnasium
Live Stats & Live Video

URBAN KNIGHTS TO MEET CUI, PLNU DOWN SOUTH
Riding the momentum of an 83-75 Pacific West Conference victory over Holy Names less than a week ago, Academy of Art women's basketball is set to get its second crack at both Concordia and Point Loma, two teams who would qualify for the conference tournament if it started today.

OPENING TIP
In its first trip to Southern California this season, ART U begins by facing Concordia in Irvine at CU Arena on Thursday, Jan. 24 with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m. Two days later on Saturday, Jan. 26, Academy of Art ventures to San Diego for its second meeting with Point Loma, this time inside Golden Gymnasium starting at 2 p.m. 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
Continuing to vie for the top spot in offensive rebounds per game with Azusa Pacific, ART U's 16.0 per game average currently leads the PacWest and ranks 16th in NCAA Division II. Offensively, junior guard Brianna Cates comes in shooting 43.6 percent from the field (fourth in the conference) and averaging a team-best 16.3 points per game (sixth in PacWest) after putting up 17 versus Holy Names. Sophomore forward Lily Perkins and freshman guard Chanel Stuart are the other two Urban Knights delivering double-digit points on a regular basis, averaging 12.7 and 11.6 points per game respectively. That pair has also proved to be dangerous defensively as they combine for nearly 5.0 steals per game. Junior forward Ines Medina has served as Academy of Art's top rebounder at 8.6 boards per contest (fifth in PacWest) while she and Stuart hold the third and fourth spots in the conference in offensive rebounds per game (they combine for 6.6).

SEE YOU SOON, CUI
Concordia's lone victory in its first nine games of the season was the 83-59 result at ART U on Dec. 1. Beginning with a three-game win streak on Dec. 19, the Eagles have won five of their last seven games (two of three in Hawaii) and now sit seventh in the PacWest standings behind Biola who cannot qualify for the postseason tournament this year. CUI is led by Michaela Vanderklugt whose 16.9 points per game rank fourth in the conference. She adds 9.5 rebounds per contest and finds herself second in the PacWest in that category. Following the loss to CUI earlier this year, Academy of Art is now 4-2 all-time versus the Eagles.

GETTING TO THE POINT
Similarly to Concordia, Academy of Art was the first team Point Loma defeated this season and their lone win in their first seven games. The Sea Lions have since enjoyed a four-game win streak and stood victorious in their last two games in Hawaii to bring them to fifth in the conference standings. PLNU will host Dominican on Jan. 24 prior to its matchup with the Knights. Ranked highly in the PacWest in free throw percentage (second, .720) and blocked shots (second, 4.9), Point Loma has relied on Sydney Peterson's 16.4 points per game (fifth in PacWest) and 87.3 free throw shooting percentage (leads PacWest, 25th in NCAA DII) plus Grace Brady's 3.2 blocks per game average (leads PacWest, ninth in NCAA DII). Inching closer to an even all-time record with now three consecutive wins the Sea Lions most recently, ART U holds a 6-5 lead in the historical matchup.

URBAN KNIGHTS COMMAND 83-75 VICTORY AT HOLY NAMES
Consistent scoring around the basket and capitalization on opponent miscues helped Academy of Art women's basketball outlast strong long-range shooting by Holy Names inside Tobin Gymnasium on Jan. 19. A steady comeback after the first quarter put the Urban Knights ahead and, with four players scoring in double figures, they never looked back en route to an 83-75 Pacific West Conference victory.

LOOKING AHEAD
When ART U returns from Southern California, one more road contest awaits and it will take the Knights to Fresno Pacific for a Jan. 30 rematch with the Sunbirds. Academy of Art will then host Dominican on Feb. 1 before traveling to Hawaii.