Game #23
ART U Urban Knights (9-13, 7-11 PWC) vs. No. 17 Azusa Pacific Cougars (20-4, 14-4 PWC)
Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 5:15 p.m.
Azusa, Calif. – Felix Event Center
Live Stats | Live Video

Game #24
ART U Urban Knights (9-13, 7-11 PWC) vs. Concordia Eagles (14-9, 12-6 PWC)
Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.
Irvine, Calif. – CU Arena
Live Stats & Live Video

URBAN KNIGHTS SET FOR FINAL REGULAR SEASON SOCAL TRIP
Looking to achieve double digit victories for the first time since 2017, Academy of Art women's basketball makes its way to Southern California to rematch No. 17 Azusa Pacific and Concordia, two teams against whom the Urban Knights were highly competitive back in early January.

OPENING TIP
ART U begins its trip with a 5:15 p.m. matchup versus No. 17 Azusa Pacifc inside the Cougars' Felix Event Center on Thursday, Feb. 20. Two days later on Feb. 22, the Urban Knights meet Concordia in Irvine at CU Arena for a 2:30 p.m. tipoff. 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
One of three teams in the Pacific West Conference averaging double digit steals per game, Academy of Art (10.7) remains second overall and top 40 in NCAA Division I. On the offensive end, graduate student guard Tayler Bennett's 14.4 points per game sit just outside the top 10 and junior guard Pam Wilmore's 13.7 points per game rank 15th in the conference. Scoring 20 points or more with three or more 3-pointers made for the seventh time this season, Bennett has held her spot as the PacWest leader in three-point field goals per game (2.9), followed closely by senior guard Josselyn Morris' 2.8 triples per contest, and both Bennett and Morris are top three in three-point field goal percentage (.377 and 3.22 respectively). The long range tandem (Bennett - 63, Morris - 58) are also approaching the program's single-season record of 78 three-point field goals made set by Sha'Nice Storey in 2016. Wilmore remains second in the conference both at 5.6 assists per game (12th in NCAA DII) and 2.4 steals per game. The PacWest's top 15 in steals per game also feature Bennett (2.1, tied for third), freshman forward Aari'yanna Sanders (1.8, ninth), and junior guard/forward Lily Perkins (1.7, tied for 11th). Morris (10.2 points per game) and Perkins (10.0 points per game) make it currently four Urban Knights scoring in double figures. Finding her rhythm over the past five games, sophomore guard Chanel Stuart is averaging 13.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals during that span.

IT'S A ZU OUT THERE
Carrying the same No. 17 ranking they had when they defeated Academy of Art 78-67 on Jan. 2, Azusa Pacific has since gone 10-1 to now sit second in the PacWest standings. APU's lone loss during that stretch came against Hawaii Pacific (85-71) on Feb. 10 and this week's matchup with ART U will be the final regular season home game for the Cougars. Azusa Pacific leads the conference in field goal percentage defense (.331, sixth in NCAA DII), turnover margin (4.5), blocked shots (6.6, first in NCAA DII), and steals per game (11.0) as well as second in scoring margin (17.9), assists (17.8), and rebounds per game (44.8). Offensively, the team is led by Savanna Hanson's 14.0 points per game (14th in PacWest), but defensively it is the country's top shot-blocker (4.6 per game) Laura Pranger who stands tall. The historical matchup between the Knights and Cougars favors the latter 9-3.

STRIKING A CHORD
After falling to ART U 96-93 in overtime back on Jan. 4, Concordia (Calif.) has enjoyed an 8-5 stretch that included two losses to Hawaii Pacific, one to Azusa Pacific, one to Point Loma, and one to Dominican most recently on Feb. 17. The Eagles, who clutch third in the PacWest standings thus far, are slated to face Notre Dame de Namur on Feb. 20 prior to their weekend matchup with the Knights. CUI ranks third in the conference in a variety of stat categories including rebounds (42.2), blocks (3.3), and assists (14.7) per game. Michaela Vanderklugt and Jasmine Rachal's 16.9 points per contest each lead Concordia and are tied for sixth in the PacWest and Vanderklugt adds the third-highest rebounding average at 9.7 boards per game. In seven previous meetings, Academy of Art is up 5-2 on the Eagles.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OUTDUELS BIOLA IN PACWEST REMATCH
A Feb. 15 Pacific West Conference rematch between Academy of Art women's basketball and UH Hilo saw the Vulcans get ahead by 11 points at halftime before a furious comeback had the game tied heading into the final quarter. Though the Urban Knights were right on UH Hilo's heels down the stretch, timely long range shooting and free throws helped the visitors seal a 61-56 victory inside Conlan Recreation Center.

LOOKING AHEAD
The final week of the regular season will see Academy of Art first host Point Loma on Feb. 27 for "Senior Night" then make the short trip south to Belmont for a Feb. 29 rematch against Notre Dame de Namur.