BELMONT, Calif. – After outscoring Simon Fraser in the first two quarters, Academy of Art women's basketball had a shot at the game-winner to close regulation, but when that did not fall, hustle plays and free throws in the extra period helped ART U secure a 59-56 win on Monday inside Walter Gleason Gym. Four Urban Knights scored in double figures including a pair, graduate student guard Joy Krupa and freshman forward/center Alisha Wilson, who each had double-doubles to power Academy of Art's 62 rebounds, the eighth-most in the program's single-game history.

"The last time this program played Simon Fraser was 2017 and they beat us 88-49, even though most of us were not here for that game, we took the fact that Simon Fraser historically had the edge over us and wanted dig deep and beat a program we have struggled with," said Head Coach Krystle Evans. "Our shots weren't falling so we had to tighten up on defense and rebound to limit their shots."

Trading baskets early, the teams locked at 4-4 before a 7-0 run came from on baskets by Krupa, freshman guard Brooke Rodgers, and Wilson. That margin was shortened in the first quarter's final minute and a half as SFU countered with a triple and transition jumper. The Knights once again pushed a seven-point lead in the second frame, but Simon Fraser worked it down to just four, 25-21, at the half.

After two 3-pointers helped SFU take a 27-25 lead to begin the second half, ART U surged back in front with 10 unanswered points including five from junior guard Lauryn Manns. As the third quarter concluded, however, consecutive buckets by the visitors had them to within a single point.

Krupa found Wilson for a layup twice during a 6-0 push early in the fourth then a three-point play conversion by Rodgers helped Academy of Art build its largest lead of the afternoon at eight points with five minutes left in regulation. The margin unfortunately did not last due to an 8-0 run from Simon Fraser over the next two minutes. Krupa soon followed up her own shot with a make for a 51-49 advantage, but SFU rebutted with a jumper at the 16-second mark to retie the game. Stepping onto the court for the first time in the final five minutes, junior guard Chanel Stuart nearly became the day's heroine with a three-point attempt, but it did not fall and overtime ensued.

"We take pride in our conditioning," Evans said. "We knew we hadn't played well in regulation so going into overtime our mindset was to let go of the four previous quarters and focus on getting stops and capitalizing on open opportunities on offense."

Free throws by Rodgers and freshman guard Alyssa Munn sandwiched a Krupa layup in the first minute of overtime as ART U went up 56-51 only to be met by five straight from SFU. As possessions quickly changed in a tie ballgame, Wilson recorded a blocked shot then Munn had a steal moments later and Rodgers proceeded to break the 56-56 tie with two made free throws. One more free throw from Manns came with 17 seconds left and, though Krupa notched a steal shortly thereafter, another turnover provided the visitors with one last change to knot things up. Executing some of its toughest defense of the afternoon, the Knights forced an airball on the final possession to secure the 59-56 victory.

Monday's victory makes it consecutive 2-0 starts for Academy of Art in full seasons dating back to the 2019-20 campaign. Rodgers led the team with 15 points as well as seven rebounds and two blocks while Krupa contributed her first double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds along with four blocks. Wilson became the first freshman in program history to record 17 rebounds in a single game, adding 10 points for her first collegiate double-double. Manns also scored in double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds.

SFU drops to 2-4 on the season despite getting 11 points and seven rebounds from Emma Kramer as well as seven points plus 11 rebounds from Claudia Hart.

Later this week, the Knights will enter Stanislaus State's Warrior Classic with matchups against Cal State East Bay (Nov. 19) and the tournament host Warriors (Nov. 20) both set for 5 p.m. in Turlock.
 
"It feels good starting the season 2-0, especially after all we've endured to be able to play during this pandemic," Evans said. "We have a challenging stretch of CCAA games coming up and we look forward to building off the momentum we've gained this week."