ELLENSBURG, Wash. – In the Urban Knights' first of two road games through the state of Washington this week, Academy of Art women's basketball fought back against an early lead for Central Washington, but despite shooting nearly 60 percent from the field in the third quarter, ART U fell 84-63 to the Wildcats inside Nicholson Pavilion on Tuesday night.

After trading baskets early, a 10-0 run by CWU allowed the home team to gain an initial advantage which they eventually built into a 23-10 margin by the end of the first quarter. Senior guard/forward Ines Medina made an immediate impact off the bench in the second, nailing a 3-pointer to cap a 7-2 surge as the Knights were suddenly behind only by single digits.

Despite another triple from Medina some three minutes later, Central Washington managed to move ahead by 18 approaching halftime. In the final minute, junior guard/forward Lily Perkins grabbed a rebound, outlet junior guard Pam Wilmore, and she set up graduate student guard Tayler Bennett for a fast break bucket to cut the halftime score down to 38-22.

Making four of its first five shots, ART U started the third quarter with a layup from junior forward Megan Jefferson assisted by Wilmore who was all over the court, registering three points, two assists, a block, and a steal in those opening five minutes. The final three minutes of the third were also strong as Academy of Art converted five of its last seven shots including three from Perkins.

The Knights' hot shooting in the third was unfortunately met by consistent baskets and CWU was still up 59-43 as the fourth began. Capped by a three-point play from senior guard Brianna Cates, a 9-0 ART U comeback bridged the final two quarters, but 11 points was as close as Academy of Art would come down the stretch after the Wildcats' own 9-0 push ensued. In the end, Central Washington walked away with an 84-63 win.

Now 2-3 overall, ART U had three players score in double figures led by Cates' 13 points plus four steals. Medina added 12 points and Perkins finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

CWU's fourth consecutive victory put them at 7-3 on the year and it was Samantha Bowman who paced the Wildcats with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.

This Thursday, Dec. 19, Academy of Art wraps up its Washington roadtrip against Seattle Pacific with a 2 p.m. tipoff inside the Falcons' Brougham Pavilion.